SAVE THE DATE

Join Us!

Please join us on Friday, April 19 at 5:00 p.m. for the 5th Anniversary Celebration of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities, which has been providing high-quality mental health care to veterans, service members and their families since 2019. This event will take place at Eagle’s Pride Golf Course & Simulator in DuPont, WA, and will include a night of celebration, reflection, and continued support of the much-needed mental health services for our military community. Military families deserve mental health support, and your help will sustain and advance the Cohen Clinic at Valley Cities now and into the future. Raffle prizes will be available during the event with dinner provided by Tin Hut BBQ.

For the last 5 years…

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Valley Cities has provided confidential, high-quality, evidence-based therapy and local referral support services to post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members (including National Guard and Reserve members), and military-connected families (as defined by the veteran or service member) in Pierce and King Counties, and throughout the state of Washington via Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy. Care is available regardless of discharge status, role while in uniform, or combat experience.

Featuring Medal of Honor Recipient

“In Ryan Pitts you see the humility and the loyalty that define America’s men and women in uniform. Of this medal, he says, “It’s not mine alone. It belongs to everybody who was there that day because we did it together.” –PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

White House Medal of Honor Ceremony, July 21, 2014

Sergeant Ryan M. Pitts distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of heroism at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Forward Observer in 2d Platoon, Chosen Company, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade, during combat operations against an armed enemy at Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler vicinity of Wanat Village, Kunar Province, Afghanistan on July 13, 2008. Early that morning, while Sergeant Pitts was providing perimeter security at Observation Post Topside, a well-organized Anti-Afghan Force consisting of over 200 members initiated a close proximity sustained and complex assault using accurate and intense rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and small arms fire on Wanat Vehicle Patrol Base. An immediate wave of rocket-propelled grenade rounds engulfed the Observation Post wounding Sergeant Pitts and inflicting heavy casualties. Sergeant Pitts had been knocked to the ground and was bleeding heavily from shrapnel wounds to his arm and legs, but with incredible toughness and resolve, he subsequently took control of the observation post and returned fire on the enemy. As the enemy drew nearer, Sergeant Pitts threw grenades, holding them after the pin was pulled and the safety lever was released to allow a nearly immediate detonation on the hostile forces.

Unable to stand on his own and near death because of the severity of his wounds and blood loss, Sergeant Pitts continued to lay suppressive fire until a two-man reinforcement team arrived. Sergeant Pitts quickly assisted them by giving up his main weapon and gathering ammunition all while continually lobbing fragmentary grenades until these were expended. At this point, Sergeant Pitts crawled to the northern position radio and described the situation to the command post as the enemy continued to try and isolate the Observation Post from the main Patrol Base. With the enemy close enough for him to hear their voices and with total disregard for his own life, Sergeant Pitts whispered in radio situation reports and conveyed information that the Command Post used to provide indirect fire support. Sergeant Pitts’ courage, steadfast commitment to the defense of his unit and ability to fight while seriously wounded prevented the enemy from overrunning the observation post and capturing fallen American soldiers, and ultimately prevented the enemy from gaining fortified positions on higher ground from which to attack Wanat Vehicle Patrol Base. Sergeant Ryan M. Pitts’ extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company C, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade and the United States Army.