As a child, the highest-ranked soldier known to have grown up in Jefferson City was a common little boy who rode his bike along Madison Street to attend St. Peter Catholic School.
Don Dail Pittman is the subject of local historian Jeremy Paul Amick's latest book, "Wings of a Patriot: The Air Force Legacy of Major General Don D. Pittman."
The earliest years of Pittman's life were defined by hardship, wrote Amick, a Russellville resident.
Pittman's mother died as he was born on Halloween in 1925. His father soon moved to Chicago and left the baby to be raised by his grandparents in their home on Madison Street.
"His grandfather was a working man," Amick said. "His grandparents had traditional values."
They enrolled him in the Catholic school, where he participated in sports and became quarterback his senior year for the St. Peter Saints.
The United States was embroiled in World War II in 1943 when Pittman graduated from St. Peter High School. By then, the Allies were making advances in Africa, the Atlantic and the Pacific. Axis advances in Europe were stalling.
Pittman's cousin, William Frederick Pash, had graduated from high school five years earlier. Pash tried to enlist in the military but couldn't because of a kidney disease. He joined the Civilian Pilot Training Program, which began in 1938 in anticipation of the United States entering the war. The goal of the program was to prepare about 20,000 civilian pilots a year in case they were needed. Pash encouraged Pittman to join the Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air Force.
He earned his wings as a transport pilot.
After World War II, he flew missions during the Berlin Airlift, in which Western Allies flew supplies to the people of West Berlin after a Soviet Union blockade shut off sectors of the city.
Pittman became a fighter pilot and ascended through the ranks, eventually commanding U.S. Air Forces in Korea. As part of his 35-year military career, he was deployed to Vietnam twice. He reached 10,000 hours of flight while piloting the SR-71 Blackbird.
Pittman documented his military career. He reached the rank of major general.
Pittman was 75 when he died of a heart attack Sept. 11, 2001, while watching coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center on television.
About two years ago, Pash's daughter, Debbie Pash Boldt, reached out to Amick and said she wanted him to have access to some records from her father. The records are to be donated to the Museum of Missouri Military History.
"When I started looking through this stuff, I couldn't believe this guy was from Jefferson City and nobody knew about him," Amick said.
The records provided the background for seven newspaper stories about Pittman. As the stories piled up, Amick realized he had to write a book about the general.
The book is available from most online retailers for $14.95. Profits go to Silver Star Families of America, which supports wounded, ill and injured veterans. A book-signing event is planned for Sept. 11 at Samuel's Tuxedo & Gifts, 236 E. High St. in Jefferson City. The Museum of Missouri Military History will host a display about Pittman from Oct. 1-Nov. 30, Amick said.
Pittman left $50,000 to Helias Catholic High School to establish a fund that would provide tuition to students who otherwise couldn't afford to attend the school. Amick will make a presentation about the major general to students and staff at the school Oct. 31.