William Charles Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" C. Fitzgerald (January 28, 1938 - August 7, 1967) was a United States Navy
officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War
, while serving as an advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Navy
. He received the Navy Cross
posthumously for his role in fighting off a Viet Cong attack.
, the second child and first son of Louis and Mildred Mary Fitzgerald. His father was a career Navy man who retired as a Chief Petty Officer
. Fitzgerald grew up in the local area and graduated from Montpelier High School in June 1956.
Following graduation, Bill followed in his father's footsteps and enlisted in the United States Navy
, As an enlisted sailor, Fitzgerald served in USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD-823)
, USS Hugh Purvis (DD-709)
, and USS Gearing (DD-710)
. Fitzgerald also served with Utility Squadron Six at NAS Norfolk
, Virginia
, while working on the Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH) program.
at Annapolis, Maryland
.
Fitzgerald excelled in naval education, softball, football, fencing, basketball, and tennis.
, where he rose from "boot ensign" to weapons department head.
Fitzgerald reported to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California
, where he attended counterinsurgency training. Upon completion he was assigned duties as the senior U.S. advisor at Coastal Defense Group Sixteen in Vietnam
. This group's compound was located adjacent to the village of Co Luy, near the delta of the Tra Khuc River
, and about 70 miles southeast of Da Nang
. In this position, he advised the Republic of Vietnam Navy
on defense measures and on the capture of military supplies and contraband destined for Viet Cong forces.
At about 0300 on August 7, 1967, Coastal Defense Group Sixteen's compound came under vicious attack by two Viet Cong battalions. The assault began with an intense mortar
barrage followed immediately by the advance of troops. Fitzgerald, the senior American commander, immediately ordered a retreat of the civilians within the compound. Because of the compound's location adjacent to a river and the aggressors' position, the only escape route was via water in small boats.
Lieutenant Fitzgerald and three others delayed their retreat as long as possible in order to provide covering fire and to direct fire from surrounding friendly forces. Many calls were made to orbiting gunship
aircraft, artillery
units, and Fast Patrol Craft
to provide defensive fire. The Viet Cong attack, however, was swift and well coordinated. It soon became apparent that the South Vietnamese forces were decimated and that the American bunker was the sole remaining source of resistance. As the situation deteriorated, Fitzgerald ordered his last three remaining defenders to retreat while he used arms fire to cover their escape. Fitzgerald was mortally wounded in this action.
. Additionally, he was awarded the Purple Heart
, National Defense Service Medal
, Vietnam Service Medal
, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign ribbon bar
.
Lieutenant Fitzgerald was survived by his wife Betty Ann, and their children who continued to reside in and around Montpelier, Vermont.
is named in his honor and was sponsored by his wife.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, while serving as an advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Navy
Republic of Vietnam Navy
The Republic of Vietnam Navy was the naval force of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. The early fleet consisted of boats from France. After 1955 and the transfer of the armed forces to Vietnamese control, the fleet was supplied from the United States...
. He received the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
posthumously for his role in fighting off a Viet Cong attack.
Early life and Navy enlisted service
Fitzgerald was born in Montpelier, VermontMontpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
, the second child and first son of Louis and Mildred Mary Fitzgerald. His father was a career Navy man who retired as a Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
. Fitzgerald grew up in the local area and graduated from Montpelier High School in June 1956.
Following graduation, Bill followed in his father's footsteps and enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, As an enlisted sailor, Fitzgerald served in USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD-823)
USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD-823)
USS Samuel B. Roberts , a , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Samuel B. Roberts, a Navy coxswain who was killed evacuating Marines during the battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. The crew nicknamed the ship the "Steamin' Sammy B." for its busy schedule.The second Samuel B...
, USS Hugh Purvis (DD-709)
USS Hugh Purvis (DD-709)
USS Hugh Purvis , an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, is currently the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Hugh Purvis, a marine who served from 1869 to 1884 and was awarded the Medal of Honor. The ship was launched by Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey, 17...
, and USS Gearing (DD-710)
USS Gearing (DD-710)
USS Gearing was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy. She was named for three generations of the Gearing family, Commander Henry Chalfant Gearing, Sr., Captain Henry Chalfant Gearing, Jr...
. Fitzgerald also served with Utility Squadron Six at NAS Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, while working on the Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH) program.
U.S. Naval Academy studies
Seaman Fitzgerald eventually earned selection for officer training and appointment to the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
.
Fitzgerald excelled in naval education, softball, football, fencing, basketball, and tennis.
Service as a commissioned officer
Midshipman Fitzgerald graduated and was commissioned in the United States Navy on June 5, 1963. He then reported to the destroyer USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853)USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853)
USS Charles H. Roan was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy. The ship was named after Charles Howard Roan, a Marine who lost his life in action on the island of Palau....
, where he rose from "boot ensign" to weapons department head.
Vietnam service
Following Roan, LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Fitzgerald reported to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California
Coronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
, where he attended counterinsurgency training. Upon completion he was assigned duties as the senior U.S. advisor at Coastal Defense Group Sixteen in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. This group's compound was located adjacent to the village of Co Luy, near the delta of the Tra Khuc River
Tra Khuc River
Trà Khúc River is a river in Vietnam. It is the largest river in Quảng Ngãi Province.It flows through the following places:*Sơn Tây District*Sơn Hà District*Tư Nghĩa District*Sơn Tịnh District*Quảng Ngãi City...
, and about 70 miles southeast of Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
. In this position, he advised the Republic of Vietnam Navy
Republic of Vietnam Navy
The Republic of Vietnam Navy was the naval force of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. The early fleet consisted of boats from France. After 1955 and the transfer of the armed forces to Vietnamese control, the fleet was supplied from the United States...
on defense measures and on the capture of military supplies and contraband destined for Viet Cong forces.
At about 0300 on August 7, 1967, Coastal Defense Group Sixteen's compound came under vicious attack by two Viet Cong battalions. The assault began with an intense mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
barrage followed immediately by the advance of troops. Fitzgerald, the senior American commander, immediately ordered a retreat of the civilians within the compound. Because of the compound's location adjacent to a river and the aggressors' position, the only escape route was via water in small boats.
Lieutenant Fitzgerald and three others delayed their retreat as long as possible in order to provide covering fire and to direct fire from surrounding friendly forces. Many calls were made to orbiting gunship
Gunship
The term "gunship" is used in several contexts, all sharing the general idea of a light craft armed with heavy guns.-In Navy:In the Navy, the term originally appeared in the mid-19th century as a less-common synonym for gunboat.-In military aviation:...
aircraft, artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
units, and Fast Patrol Craft
Fast Patrol Craft
Patrol Craft Fast , also known as Swift Boats, were all-aluminum, long, shallow-draft vessels operated by the U.S. Navy, initially to patrol the coastal areas and later for work in the interior waterways as part of the Brown Water Navy to interdict Vietcong movement of arms and munitions,...
to provide defensive fire. The Viet Cong attack, however, was swift and well coordinated. It soon became apparent that the South Vietnamese forces were decimated and that the American bunker was the sole remaining source of resistance. As the situation deteriorated, Fitzgerald ordered his last three remaining defenders to retreat while he used arms fire to cover their escape. Fitzgerald was mortally wounded in this action.
Awards and legacy
In honor of Lieutenant William C. Fitzgerald's loyal and selfless dedication to his people, he was posthumously awarded the U. S. Navy's second-highest decoration for valor, the Navy CrossNavy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
. Additionally, he was awarded the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
, Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during...
, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign ribbon bar
Vietnam Campaign Medal
The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is...
.
Lieutenant Fitzgerald was survived by his wife Betty Ann, and their children who continued to reside in and around Montpelier, Vermont.
Namesake
The United States Navy ship USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62)USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62)
USS Fitzgerald , named for Lieutenant William Charles Fitzgerald, USN is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She was laid down by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine 9 February 1993; launched 29 January 1994; and commissioned 14 October 1995 in Newport, R.I...
is named in his honor and was sponsored by his wife.