Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1963 Lucky Bag:

WILLIAM CHARLES FITZGERALD

This curly-headed Irishman from Montpelier, Vermont, is one of the types that give the Brigade its reputation in many fields. He is truly devoted to the service. After thirty-four months as an enlisted man he looks to be a thirty year career man. “Fitz”, as all his friends know him, has been in numerous predicaments on liberty which have furthered his reputation for having a good sense of humor. He is quite an athlete, having played Battalion fencing, company softball, heavyweight football, basketball, and Plebe fencing. In addition to these organized sports, he is a vicious weekend tennis player. During Second Class summer Bill was on the Plebe detail. Many nights were spent laughing at his little episodes with the Plebes. Then there is a serious side to “Baby Huey”, as his roommates once called him. His fine record in aptitude and scholastics is only a small indication of the purpose with which he pursues his goal to be a good officer.

Loss

Bill was killed in action on August 7, 1967 when North Vietnamese forces attacked the compound where he was stationed as the senior advisor to Coastal Defense Group Sixteen. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his extraordinary heroism.

Other Information

From USNA Class of 1963:

Bill Fitzgerald was born 28 January 1938 in Montpelier, Vermont, 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. Bill 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, Bill served in USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DD 823), USS HUGH PURVIS (DD 709), and USS GEARING (DD 710). Bill also served with Utility Squadron SIX at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, while working on the Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH) program. Seaman William Fitzgerald eventually earned selection for officer training and appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

During Midshipman Fitzgerald’s days at Annapolis, he became well known as an outstanding leader and athlete. Bill Fitzgerald excelled in Naval Education, softball, football, fencing, basketball, and tennis. Additionally, Bill developed a great sense of camaraderie with his peers, and from his enlisted experience he had an intuitive grasp for being a great naval officer. Midshipman Fitzgerald earned his commission in the U.S. Navy on 5 June 1963. After graduation from Annapolis, Ensign Fitzgerald reported to USS CHARLES H. ROAN (DD 853), where he rose from “Boot Ensign” to Weapons Department Head, a position of great responsibility. Following ROAN, Lieutenant 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 Danang. In this position, he advised the South Vietnamese Navy on defense measures and on the capture of military supplies and contraband destined for Viet Cong forces.

At about 0300 on 7 August 1967, Coastal 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 “Swift”-type fast river patrol boats 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.

In honor of Lieutenant William C. Fitzgerald’s loyal and selfless dedication to his people, he was posthumously awarded the U. S. Navy’s highest decoration for valor The Navy Cross. Additionally, he was awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign ribbon bar.

LT Fitzgerald is survived by his wife Betty Ann, and their children who continue to reside in and around Montpelier VT. Mrs. Fitzgerald was designated sponsor of the ship named for her late husband and continues to be active in both official and unofficial ship functions.

From USNA At Large (via Class of 1963):

The “brown water navy” of the Vietnam War was one of the most high-risk assignments that our Surface Warfare officers will ever endure. Continuing our Vietnam War Navy Cross series, today’s REALLY Distinguished Graduate is LT William Charles Fitzgerald, Class of 1963. He gave his life for his men.

Fitzgerald was born in Montpelier, Vermont, 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, he 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.

Seaman Fitzgerald eventually earned selection for officer training and appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Midshipman Fitzgerald excelled in softball, football, fencing, basketball, and tennis.

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), where he rose from “boot ensign” to weapons department head.

Following the USS Roan tour, Lieutenant Fitzgerald reported to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, where he attended counterinsurgency training. Upon completion he was assigned duties as the senior U.S. adviser 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. Before dawn on 7 August 1967 an enemy force of about two battalions launched a frontal assault on Coastal Group 16’s base, about seventy miles southeast of Da Nang. The U.S. advisers at the base, including Lieutenant William C. Fitzgerald, were swept into the fight as the situation became desperate. Lieutenant Fitzgerald radioed for help. Swift Boat PCF-20, patrolling nearby, intercepted the message, relayed it to other Market Time units, and headed for the base at flank speed. Arriving in less than twenty minutes, the Swift opened fire on enemy mortar and automatic weapons sites that had been set up on the river bank adjacent to the base.

Within minutes, the large enemy force was penetrating the northern minefield defenses of the base. Numerous Vietnamese Navy defenders were already dead, including the commander of the coastal group. About three hundred enemy troops broke through and overran the central area of the base. The American advisers retreated to a bunker, where they continued firing on the advancing enemy.

Swift Boat PCF-75 soon arrived, and five minutes later Vietnamese gunboat PCE-10 joined the fray. All three craft delivered heavy fire, but they and the base defenders were unable to stop the enemy. Soon the base was under enemy control, and it appeared to Lieutenant Fitzgerald that his bunker was the last point of resistance. Ordering his men to escape to the river, he remained behind to provide covering fire. He also radioed a nearby U.S. artillery unit and called a strike on his position. Once his men were clear, Lieutenant Fitzgerald tried to withdraw, but as he left the bunker, a bullet struck him in the back of the head and killed him. In the meantime, the USS Camp (DER-251), USS Gallup (PG-85), PCFs 15 and 54, and a U.S. Air Force ‘Dragon Ship’ had arrived and were saturating the enemy positions within the base with counter fire. The Swift Boats evacuated approximately forty Vietnamese to the Camp; fifteen of them were subsequently flown by helicopter to the Vietnamese hospital at Quang Ngai. For the next several hours, the ships and aircraft kept up a steady barrage until one U.S. and two ARVN infantry companies arrived and launched a counterattack against the Viet Cong forces. Within a half hour the base was again in friendly hands.

All but one of the base’s buildings had been destroyed in the battle. Fourteen Vietnamese Navy men had been killed; thirty five more were wounded. Twenty civilians were also killed. Thirty five VC suspects who were detained at the base had been freed, and three others were killed. LT Fitzgerald’s courageous actions had saved the lives of most of the base personnel.

Bill was survived by his wife and three children — the youngest of whom he never met — and his parents. He is buried in Vermont.

His wife, Betty, passed away in 2021.

Photographs

From the 1967 cruise book of USS Charles H. Roan

From his 1956 high school yearbook

Remembrance

From USNA 1963:

A personal note from a childhood friend: Hello: I was, am, a long time family friend of the Fitzgerald’s. I grew up with Billy’s brothers’ and often visited the family home in Shady Rill, Middlesex on weekends. I knew Martin and Robert (my classmate) better then Billy. Billy was often away when I was there as he was in the Navy or at the Academy. When he was home he would engage in a game of football with us (Martin, me, Robert and my brother Bobby). Sometimes Bill’s father or brother in law would play to make the sides “even”. It did not seem so to me though as it was always Bill’s youngest brother Robert and me against the “older and taller boys”.

I know Betty (Bill’s wife) fairly well, but not as well as I knew him and his immediate family.

Your web site memorial to (and picture of) Bill brought back a lot of old, wonderful memories of him and his family. Marty is the only surviving sib now and I do not see him much.

I was born in Montpelier but lived in Putnamville, Middlesex until I was 22. Used to ride our bikes over there and back.

Thank you for keeping his memory and spirit alive. Ronald D. Wells, Montpelier High School Class of 1964

Navy Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant William Charles Fitzgerald (NSN: 0-669041), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 7 August 1967 while serving as Senior Advisor to Vietnamese Navy Coastal Group SIXTEEN in connection with combat operations against the communist insurgents (Viet Cong) in the Republic of Vietnam. When Coastal Group 16 was taken under a coordinated attack by numerically superior Viet Cong forces, Lieutenant Fitzgerald immediately established communications with the Vietnamese Navy commanding officer, and attempted to coordinate assistance with free-world forces in the area. The enemy fire soon became too intense for the outnumbered base defense force to resist successfully and the Viet Cong completely overran the base. Aware that his bunker was the only remaining source of resistance, Lieutenant Fitzgerald requested an artillery barrage to be laid down on his own position and ordered his men to evacuate the base toward the river. He gallantly remained in the command bunker in order to provide cover fire for the evacuating personnel. Before Lieutenant Fitzgerald could carry out his own escape, he was fatally shot by the Viet Cong aggressors. By his fearless dedication to duty, courage under fire, and heroic actions in defense of the base, despite overwhelming odds, Lieutenant Fitzgerald served as an inspiration to all persons engaged in the counterinsurgency effort in Vietnam and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals
Action Date: 7-Aug-67
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Advisor (Attached)
Regiment: Vietnamese Navy Coastal Group 16

Namesake

USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) is named in honor of Bill.