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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Army CPT Riley L. Pitts.
Episode 3133 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Army CPT Riley L. Pitts was honored again in Kansas. The featured story is titled: WSU Military and Veteran Center honors first African American Medal of Honor awardee. It appeared in the WSU Sunflower and was submitted by Reporter Kami Steinle.
Steinle reported that Wichita State University recently rededicated its Military and Veteran Student Center to honor one of its most distinguished alumni, Army Captain Riley L. Pitts, the first African American officer in the U.S. Army to receive the Medal of Honor. A 1960 journalism graduate of WSU, Captain Pitts embodied courage, leadership, and integrity both in the classroom and on the battlefield. Serving with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, he was tragically killed in action on October 31, 1967, at the age of 30. For his extraordinary heroism and selfless sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the nation’s highest military honor on December 10, 1968.
Originally dedicated to Pitts in 2014, the center has now been relocated to the newly renovated Shocker Success Center, a move celebrated by the university, the City of Wichita, and the Kansas Legislature. The rededication ceremony drew dignitaries, including State Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau, who presented an official letter from the legislature recognizing Pitts’s lasting legacy.
WSU officials praised Pitts as a symbol of leadership, compassion, and service, values that transcend military life. “His story reminds us that leadership and service are not only military virtues, but human ones,” said Samuel Jones, Director of Military and Veterans Services. Vice President Marché Fleming-Randle emphasized that Pitts rose above adversity and prejudice with unshakable dignity and excellence, representing the very best of Wichita State.
A new plaque and ceremonial saber were unveiled in his memory, with members of the Pitts family in attendance. His son, Mark Pitts, expressed deep gratitude, saying the honor reflected his father’s enduring spirit, character, and integrity — qualities that continue to inspire generations of students and soldiers alike.
Listen to Episode 3133 and discover more about how Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Army CPT Riley L. Pitts was honored again in Kansas.
