'Full circle moment': Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic unveiled in French Camp

Apr. 26—FRENCH CAMP — Julie Pittman said this week's ribbon cutting for the region's new Veterans Administration clinic was a "full circle moment" for her family.

Her father, Stockton native and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Richard A. Pittman was born at San Joaquin General Hospital, and now the new clinic located directly north on South Manthey Road will bear his name.

The VA Northern California Health Care System hosted a ribbon cutting for the new Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic at 6505 S. Manthey Road in French Camp on Thursday.

The 158,000 square-foot facility will provide some 200,000 veterans in the Central Valley a plethora of services including women's health; mental health; speech pathology, geriatrics; surgery; neurology, radiology and urgent care, among others.

Julie Pittman told the dozens of veterans in attendance at Thursday's ceremony that they all earned, and were entitled to, services the new clinic provides.

"Our father came from two generations of veterans," she said. "He and his brother served. His father and four uncles served. His grandfather and four great uncles served, and that is just in the Central Valley. Every single one of them could have benefited from veterans services available in this community. We look forward to seeing all of the services that will be available to generations of veterans that are going to be in this community. We all have earned them."

Born in French Camp, Richard Pittman enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1965. On July 24, 1966, his unit was moving along a trail near the Demilitarized Zone in the Republic of Vietnam when the Marines ahead of them came under attack.

Upon hearing this, Pittman took a machine gun and several belts of ammunition, and rushed to aid his comrades. As he moved towards the attacked Marines, Pittman came under heavy fire from two automatic weapons, which he was able to destroy.

When he learned there were additional wounded Marines further along the trail, he endured enemy mortar and gun fire to get to them.

As he reached his fellow service members, he faced an attack from as many as 40 enemy fighters, and used a combination of machine-gun fire, an enemy submachine gun, a pistol from a fallen comrade, and a grenade to cause the enemy forces to withdraw.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions by President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 14, 1968.

His actions were recreated on screen in the 1993 Tom Hanks film "Forrest Gump." He passed away in 2016 at the age of 71.

In 2022, Congress passed a law to name the new clinic after him.

Tino Adame, Jr., a veteran Marine, Purple Heart recipient and American Legion Karl Ross Post 16 member, said the effort to bring health services for veterans to the area began in 2003, when his Veterans' Services Officer said they needed to begin advocating for a facility.

"Over the last 21 years, our community and veterans have come together and stayed dedicated to the mission to bring care for veterans of the Central Valley," he said. "We had countless meetings at Karl Ross Post 16, Stockton City Council and the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. We also attended Congressional hearings and we all collaborated with the VA to get this done. To see this mission in my lifetime is a dram come true."

State Senator Susan Talamantes-Eggman, D-Stockton, a U.S. Army veteran, said she remembered veterans and advocates from all over the region filling Stockton City Council chambers when she was elected in 2006, urging elected officials to build such a facility.

She also remembered introducing Richard Pittman when the traveling Vietnam Memorial came to Stockton, and being overwhelmed at the amount of veterans in attendance.

Eggman said since those times, many local veterans have passed on as the community waited for its own VA medical center.

"I can tell you as a veteran in my 60s, my veterans' peer group is also developing all kinds of new medical issues, oftentimes based on service," she said. "We also know since that time we've had continuous conflicts in this country, where we continue to produce more veterans. We also know that in areas like Stockton, where the socio-economics aren't rich, that we are the ones who serve — our communities of color, our Latino communities, our native communities, our farm workers — our people to come out to volunteer for service to serve their country. And it's only right that when they come back, we have something for them."

David Stockwell, VA Northern California Health Care director, said Richard Pittman's courage and Sacrifice continues to inspire the community.

His memorabilia will be on display inside the clinic for the community to admire, Stockwell said.

"We are here to ensure that every veteran receives the care and support they deserve," he said.

"The Richard A. Pittman clinic is more than just this building. It's a symbol of our nation's gratitude, and a testament to our enduring promise to honor and serve those who have served us. Together, let's continue to uphold this legacy of courage, sacrifice and resilience that defines the spirit of our veterans."