My Bronze Star Citation

by John J. Fitzgerald April, 1998

I was awarded the Bronze Star with "V" Device. The "V" stand for Valor. This distinguishes the medal from other forms of recognition for meritorious service in such branches as the supply corps or transportation corps. One could get a Bronze Star for outstanding work in the field of logistics, supply and maintenance.

My award came at the same time that a soldier in my platoon, Sp4th Class Charles Brown received the Silver Star. He was killed in action and the Company Commander recommended him for the higher award along with the Purple Heart. Since I was only wounded, I was nominated for the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. The military has a tradition of recognizing those who die for their country. Dying is considered a greater sacrifice than getting wounded.

Since I left the military after my wounds healed, I never wore the medal on my uniform. I keep it in the box in which it came. The same holds true for my Purple Heart. I cite the two medals in my resume¥ and I used them to establish my credentials when I was speaking out against the war. I was an early member of Vietnam Veterans Against The War. I joined when I was working for Senator Eugene J. McCarthy for President in New Hampshire in 1968. In 1968, this was the electoral politics branch of the anti-war movement.

I served in Vietnam as an Infantry Platoon Leader. I ran 1st Platoon of B Company of the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry. I served in the 25th Infantry Division and our base camp was in Cu Chi, Republic of Vietnam.

On the 26th of June, 1966, my platoon and I had been in country since the 1st of May. We were relatively seasoned soldiers, but we had not seen much combat up until then. I was working with a reinforced platoon and we were looking for a sniper and/or snipers known to be located in the area outside of our perimeter. We now know that there was a vast tunnel complex in Cu Chi and that there were a number of members of the National Liberation Front stationed there.

My mission was to search for and destroy the enemy. We called the "enemy" the "Viet Cong". I was also told to destroy any unexploded ordinance we might find in the area. The Air Force had earlier dropped some bombs out there and they missed the target. As a result, they left some "dud" bombs in the vicinity and these could be used by the "enemy" to make land mines for use against us.

As we moved through the area we were supposed to search, we drew some small arms fire from the sniper or snipers. We found one 100 pound bomb and blew it up. I then had my platoon break down into three search groups to check out the remaining area. I kept one squad in reserve for use in a counter-ambush, if needed. One of the squads came upon a group of "enemy" and opened up on them. They had somehow come in from behind on them and they had "ambushed" them. Charles Brown fired at them with his M-60 machine-gun. He hit them. This fire team then moved in to investigate. They called on the radio to report what happened and I remember telling them to be careful. They were then ambushed by other "enemy" elements and I moved out to their location with my reserve squad and we countered the counter ambush. As we moved out, we did reconnaissance by fire in case there were some non-friendlies in the bushes waiting for us. I remember feeling a tremendous adrenaline rush as we moved out.

When we got to the ambush site, I realized I was out of ammunition and ducked behind a tree for some cover and started to reload my M-16. Then I got hit. My arm felt like it had been punched and I looked down and saw a small hole through my tattoo and felt my arm dangling. I did not feel pain. I guess I was in shock. There was some firing and then everything was silent. I can remember giving some orders about getting the wounded out. And I started walking back to my earlier location. When I got there I saw Brown's body and I told the medic to give him mouth to mouth resuscitation. He told me that he was dead. I went out on the helicopter that took Brown's body out. When I got to the medical area I was still walking but I must have been in shock. I had a huge exit wound and most of my arm and shoulder were torn up. I could not see that but I remember noticing the reaction of people to me. They looked horrified. They cut my boot laces off and slit up my uniform. I remember being very thirsty and I still recall the last words of the doctor when they were giving me anesthesia. I was holding my breath and he said, "Don't fight it."

When I regained consciousness, I was dry heaving from the effects of the ether and an African-American medic was holding a stainless steel bowl to my lips.

My arm was broken, actually shattered, and the bone and bullet fragments had torn through my back and my shoulder. It would be 14 months before I would be out of the various casts I was put into and I would have almost full use of my right arm again. The bullet that hit me was fired from a carbine. It might probably have been left over from the military assistance we had given to the French. However it got there, it wound up in the hands of the Vietnamese guerrillas. My own rifle was left on the ground after I was hit and I don't know what happened to it.

After I was able to write up what I could understand of the situation, the Company Commander must have interviewed some others and he pieced together the story that appears in the Bronze Star citation. I don't recall any enemy machine-gun fire. I later was told that the entire company was listening to our progress on the radio back in base camp. The firing of weapons was probably largely our own. It must have sounded like quite an adventure.

In truth, it was small action in the context of a larger war. I do not think what Brown or I did was particularly heroic or valorous. It was our job and we were doing it. I know my happiest moment in Vietnam was when I was hit, because I "knew" I was homeward bound. I have never wanted to be out of a place more than Vietnam. The place filled me with dread and I have never know the kind of fear I felt there any place else.

I was very lucky. I almost got killed that afternoon. I still think of the 26th of June as my second birthday. It certainly marked my personal renaissance. My wound gave me the license to speak out against the war. The fact that it was not lethal was a plus, of course. But my wound gave me a chance to spare others from going through what I did. Medals are not supposed to act that way. When you get one, you are labeled as an official hero. You are supposed to be a supporter of the cause; a team player. You are supposed to cheer the effort and encourage others to make similar sacrifices. I did not want to play that game. I wanted to know whether the war I was in was a justified one. I concluded that it was not. My medal gave me the high ground and the moral courage to speak out in a moral way against an immoral war.

It is a shame that we do not give medals or awards to people who speak out against war.Official Citation for my Bronze Star with V for Valor one copy in 12 point and another in 10 point

//s//
HERBERT L. FORSYTHE
LTC, AGC
Adjutant General

HEADQUARTERS
25TH INFANTRY DIVISION
APO San Francisco 96225

GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 614 23 July 1966

AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR HEROISM
1. TC 320. The following AWARDS are announced.
FITZGERALD, JOHN J. 05324915 1LT INF USA Co B, 4th Bn, 9th Inf, 25th Inf Div
Awarded: Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device
Date action: 26 June 1966
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Reason: For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: Lieutenant Fitzgerald distinguished himself by heroic actions on 26 June 1966, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, he was serving as platoon leader of a platoon size search and destroy operation against the Viet Cong. At approximately 1615 hours, Lieutenant Fitzgerald received a call from one of his fire team leaders that his squad was engaged with the Viet Cong and needed reinforcements. Immediately he summoned his only available squad and personally led them approximately 600 meters to his fire team leader's position, Under heavy machine gun and automatic weapons fire, Lieutenant Fitzgerald personally led the assault on the enemy's position, He directed the maneuver of his elements and continued moving forward while firing and throwing hand grenades until be was seriously wounded and unable to continue the advance. From his position approximately ten meters from the enemy, he continued to lead the attack and function as a platoon leader even though weakened by loss of a considerable amount of blood. He refused medical treatment until all the other wounded men had been treated, and was one of the last men evacuated. By his actions, Lieutenant Fitzgerald instilled in his men a will to fight until the enemy fire was silenced and evacuation of the wounded could be affected, Lieutenant Fitzgerald's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the highest standards of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, and USARV message 16695, 1 July 1966.
FOR THE COMMANDER:

OFFICIAL: THOMAS W. MELLEN
Colonel, GS
Chief of Staff

//s//
HERBERT L. FORSYTHE
LTC, AGC
Adjutant General

HEADQUARTERS
25TH INFANTRY DIVISION
APO San Francisco 96225

GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 614
23 July 1966

AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR HEROISM
1. TC 320. The following AWARDS are announced.
FITZGERALD, JOHN J. 05324915 1LT INF USA
Co B, 4th Bn, 9th Inf, 25th Inf Div
Awarded: Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device
Date action: 26 June 1966
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Reason: For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: Lieutenant Fitzgerald distinguished himself by heroic actions on 26 June 1966, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, he was serving as platoon leader of a platoon size search and destroy operation against the Viet Cong. At approximately 1615 hours, Lieutenant Fitzgerald received a call from one of his fire team leaders that his squad was engaged with the Viet Cong and needed reinforcements. Immediately he summoned his only available squad and personally led them approximately 600 meters to his fire team leader's position, Under heavy machine gun and automatic weapons fire, Lieutenant Fitzgerald personally led the assault on the enemy's position, He directed the maneuver of his elements and continued moving forward while firing and throwing hand grenades until be was seriously wounded and unable to continue the advance. From his position approximately ten meters from the enemy, he continued to lead the attack and function as a platoon leader even though weakened by loss of a considerable amount of blood. He refused medical treatment until all the other wounded men had been treated, and was one of the last men evacuated. By his actions, Lieutenant Fitzgerald instilled in his men a will to fight until the enemy fire was silenced and evacuation of the wounded could be affected, Lieutenant Fitzgerald's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the highest standards of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, and USARV message 16695, 1 July 1966.
FOR THE COMMANDER:

OFFICIAL: THOMAS W. MELLEN
Colonel, GS
Chief of Staff

HEADQUARTERS 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION APO San Francisco 96225
GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 614	23 July 1966
AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR HEROISM 1. TC 320. The following AWARDS are announced. FITZGERALD, JOHN J. 05324915 1LT INF USA Co B, 4th Bn, 9th Inf, 25th Inf Div Awarded: Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device Date action: 26 June 1966 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: Lieutenant Fitzgerald distinguished himself by heroic actions on 26 June 1966, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, he was serving as platoon leader of a platoon size search and destroy operation against the Viet Cong. At approximately 1615 hours, Lieutenant Fitzgerald received a call from one of his fire team leaders that his squad was engaged with the Viet Cong and needed reinforcements. Immediately he summoned his only available squad and personally led them approximately 600 meters to his fire team leader's position, Under heavy machine gun and automatic weapons fire, Lieutenant Fitzgerald personally led the assault on the enemy's position, He directed the maneuver of his elements and continued moving forward while firing and throwing hand grenades until be was seriously wounded and unable to continue the advance. From his position approximately ten meters from the enemy, he continued to lead the attack and function as a platoon leader even though weakened by loss of a considerable amount of blood. He refused medical treatment until all the other wounded men had been treated, and was one of the last men evacuated. By his actions, Lieutenant Fitzgerald instilled in his men a will to fight until the enemy fire was silenced and evacuation of the wounded could be affected, Lieutenant Fitzgerald's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the highest standards of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, and USARV message 16695, 1 July 1966. FOR THE COMMANDER:
OFFICIAL:	THOMAS W. MELLEN Colonel, GS Chief of Staff
//s// HERBERT L. FORSYTHE LTC, AGC Adjutant General HEADQUARTERS 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION APO San Francisco 96225
GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 614	23 July 1966
AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR HEROISM 1. TC 320. The following AWARDS are announced. FITZGERALD, JOHN J. 05324915 1LT INF USA Co B, 4th Bn, 9th Inf, 25th Inf Div Awarded: Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device Date action: 26 June 1966 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: Lieutenant Fitzgerald distinguished himself by heroic actions on 26 June 1966, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, he was serving as platoon leader of a platoon size search and destroy operation against the Viet Cong. At approximately 1615 hours, Lieutenant Fitzgerald received a call from one of his fire team leaders that his squad was engaged with the Viet Cong and needed reinforcements. Immediately he summoned his only available squad and personally led them approximately 600 meters to his fire team leader's position, Under heavy machine gun and automatic weapons fire, Lieutenant Fitzgerald personally led the assault on the enemy's position, He directed the maneuver of his elements and continued moving forward while firing and throwing hand grenades until be was seriously wounded and unable to continue the advance. From his position approximately ten meters from the enemy, he continued to lead the attack and function as a platoon leader even though weakened by loss of a considerable amount of blood. He refused medical treatment until all the other wounded men had been treated, and was one of the last men evacuated. By his actions, Lieutenant Fitzgerald instilled in his men a will to fight until the enemy fire was silenced and evacuation of the wounded could be affected, Lieutenant Fitzgerald's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the highest standards of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, and USARV message 16695, 1 July 1966. FOR THE COMMANDER:
OFFICIAL:	THOMAS W. MELLEN Colonel, GS Chief of Staff