Michael John Fitzmaurice

Last updated
Michael John Fitzmaurice
MichaelJFitzmauricePortrait.jpg
Fitzmaurice c. 1971
Born (1950-03-09) March 9, 1950 (age 73)
Jamestown, North Dakota
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1969-1972 (US Army), 1987-2011 (South Dakota National Guard)
Rank Specialist Four
Unit 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Michael John Fitzmaurice (born March 9, 1950) is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Contents

Military career

Fitzmaurice joined the United States Army from his birth city of Jamestown, North Dakota in 1969, [1] and by March 23, 1971, was serving as a specialist four in Troop D, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. [2]

During a firefight on that day, in Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam, Fitzmaurice smothered the blast of an enemy-thrown explosive charge with his flak vest and body to protect other soldiers. Seriously wounded and partially blinded by the blast, he then continued to fight the enemy. After his rifle was damaged by a second explosive blast, Fitzmaurice proceeded to acquire another rifle from a Viet Cong sapper, defeating him with his bare hands, and continued to fight, refusing medical evacuation. [2]

Fitzmaurice survived his wounds, discharged in 1972 [3] and was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1973. [2]

Fitzmaurice joined the South Dakota Army and Air National Guard and worked with local VA [4] from 1987 and retired in 2011. [5]

Medal of Honor citation

Specialist Fitzmaurice's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Cmoh army.jpg
The Medal of Honor being presented to SP4 Michael J. Fitzmaurice by President Richard M. Nixon at the White House, while members of his family and another recipient look on. The Medal of Honor recipient Specialist Four Michael J. Fitzmaurice.tiff
The Medal of Honor being presented to SP4 Michael J. Fitzmaurice by President Richard M. Nixon at the White House, while members of his family and another recipient look on.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. SPC. Fitzmaurice, 3d Platoon, Troop D, distinguished himself at Khe Sanh. Spc4. Fitzmaurice and 3 fellow soldiers were occupying a bunker when a company of North Vietnamese sappers infiltrated the area. At the onset of the attack Sp4c. Fitzmaurice observed 3 explosive charges which had been thrown into the bunker by the enemy. Realizing the imminent danger to his comrades, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, he hurled 2 of the charges out of the bunker. He then threw his flak vest and himself over the remaining charge. By this courageous act he absorbed the blast and shielded his fellow-soldiers. Although suffering from serious multiple wounds and partial loss of sight, he charged out of the bunker, and engaged the enemy until his rifle was damaged by the blast of an enemy hand grenade. While in search of another weapon, Sp4c. Fitzmaurice encountered and overcame an enemy sapper in hand-to-hand combat. Having obtained another weapon, he returned to his original fighting position and inflicted additional casualties on the attacking enemy. Although seriously wounded, Sp4c. Fitzmaurice refused to be medically evacuated, preferring to remain at his post. Sp4c. Fitzmaurice's extraordinary heroism in action at the risk of his life contributed significantly to the successful defense of the position and resulted in saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. These acts of heroism go above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect great credit on Sp4c. Fitzmaurice and the U.S. Army. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Lang Vei</span> 1968 battle in the Vietnam War

The Battle of Lang Vei began on the evening of 6 February 1968 and concluded during the early hours of 7 February, in Quảng Trị Province, South Vietnam. Towards the end of 1967, the 198th Tank Battalion of the People's Army of Vietnam's (PAVN) 202nd Armored Regiment received instructions from the North Vietnamese Ministry of Defense to reinforce the 304th Division as part of the Route 9–Khe Sanh Campaign. After an arduous journey down the Ho Chi Minh trail in January 1968, the 198th Tank Battalion linked up with the 304th Division for an offensive along Highway 9, which stretched from the Laotian border through to Quảng Trị Province. On 23 January, the 24th Regiment attacked the small Laotian outpost at Bane Houei Sane, under the control of the Royal Laos Army BV-33 "Elephant" Battalion. In that battle, the 198th Tank Battalion failed to reach the battle on time because its crews struggled to navigate their tanks through the rough local terrain. However, as soon as the PT-76 tanks of the 198th Tank Battalion turned up at Bane Houei Sane, the Laotian soldiers and their families retreated into South Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Baca</span>

John Philip Baca is a former United States Army soldier and a Vietnam War veteran. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest decoration of the United States Armed Forces, for his actions in Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garfield M. Langhorn</span>

Garfield McConnell Langhorn was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitchell W. Stout</span>

Mitchell William Stout was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Martin Patterson</span>

Robert Martin Patterson is a retired United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray McKibben</span>

Ray McKibben was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas James Kinsman</span>

Thomas James Kinsman was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth Michael Kays</span> United States Army soldier

Kenneth Michael Kays was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald R. Johnston</span>

Donald Ray Johnston was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank A. Herda</span> United States Army soldier (1947–2023)

Frank Aloysious Herda was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter M. Guenette</span>

Peter Matthew Guenette was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank R. Fratellenico</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (1951–1970)

Frank Rocco Fratellenico was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Fleming Folland</span>

Michael Fleming Folland was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward A. DeVore Jr.</span>

Edward Allen DeVore Jr. was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry G. Dahl</span>

Larry Gilbert Dahl was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas J. Cutinha</span>

Nicholas Joseph Cutinha was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael R. Blanchfield</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Michael Reinert Blanchfield was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candelario Garcia</span> US war veteran and Medal of Honor recipient

Candelario Garcia, Jr. was a United States Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Firebase Illingworth is a former U.S. Army firebase northwest of Tây Ninh in southwest Vietnam.

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Fitzmaurice: Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient". 14 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Medal of Honor recipients – Vietnam (A-L)". United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  3. ↑ "Michael Fitzmaurice: Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient". 14 February 2022.
  4. ↑ "Michael Fitzmaurice, Medal of Honor recipient, is a reluctant hero".
  5. ↑ "Michael Fitzmaurice: Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient". 14 February 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.