Private 1st Class, Inf., Co. E, 28th Reg. Born in Nash County, Sept. 29, 1895; son of M. B. and Lizzie J. Pitt. Entered the service at Rocky Mount, N.C., April 11, 1917, and sent to Ft. Scriven, Ga., and transferred to Ft. M. C. Allen, Texas. Sailed for France June 12, 1917. Was killed at the battle of Cantigny, May 28, 1918, and buried in American Cemetery No. 176, No. 24, Section B, Villess Tournelle Somme. He was the first young hero killed in the service from Nash County. The citation for gallant conduct by the commander of the division of which the Rocky Mount hero was a member, is as follows: Co. E, 28th Inf.; Private, 1st Class, Edward C. Pitt, automatic rifleman, was posted in a particularly exposed position on the flank of their company in order to neutralize the effect of an enemy machine gun, which was rendering it difficult for the next company to man its parapet. These men killed six of the enemy with their fire, put the enemy gun out of action, and in spite of heavy shelling, remained at their post until Private Marshall was killed and the others were wounded by shell fire.
