THE WALL OF FACES

Did I see this on the VVMF or on Face Book. That you were one of the first soldiers in Vietnam? You have a very nice smile. :)

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. You will never be forgotten. I read the story about how you passed out bubblegum to the little Vietnamese children. It just shows what a big heart that you had, and what a very special person you were.

Dear TSGT Richard Bernard Fitzgibbon Jr, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for the ultimate sacrifice that you made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. And please know that men and women like you have stepped forward to defend our country yet again, showing the same love for country and their fellow Americans that you did- you would be proud.

With respect, and the best salute that a civilian can muster for you.

Curt Carter (son of Sgt Ardon William Carter, 101st Airborne)

No. 581-98

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

6 November 1998


NAME OF USAF TECHNICAL SERGEANT

RICHARD BERNARD FITZGIBBON

TO BE ADDED TO THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL


The Department of Defense has informed family members of United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Richard Bernard Fitzgibbon Jr. that his name will be added to the Department of Defense (DoD) Southeast Asia Casualty Database.

Fitzgibbon died in the line of duty in Vietnam on 8 June 1956, while serving as a member of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam.

His name will also be added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, known to all as " The Wall ".

Earlier this year, the Air Force formally requested that the director, Information Operations and Reports add Fitzgibbon's name to the database.

In the past he had not been included because the DoD Instruction established 1 January 1961, as the start date for the database.

After an extensive high-level review of the qualifying criteria and the circumstances of loss for pre-1961 casualties, the Department decided to add his name to the database.

Eight other pre-1961 casualties have been added in years past.

As a result of the review, the establishment of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam, on 1 November 1955, is now formally recognized as the earliest qualifying date for addition to the database and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Fitzgibbon's casualty date of 8 June 1956, is now the earliest in the database.

Fitzgibbon's son, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Richard Bernard Fitzgibbon III was killed in action in Vietnam on 7 September 1965.

An extensive search of the records indicates they were the only American father and son Service members to die in Vietnam.

Department of Defense and Air Force officials will present to the Fitzgibbon family a letter formally conveying the decision in a ceremony on Monday 9 November, at 10 a.m. (EDT) in Stoneham, Massachusetts.

"I looked across the street and noted something was wrong," said Burroughs. " We had a medic upstairs so I had someone grab him and a first aid kit.

"After shooting Sakmar, Clarke left the bar, gun in hand, and proceeded up the street," said Johnson. " When the local police attempted to stop him, he ran into a building, went upstairs and positioned himself on a small balcony overlooking the street. The police opened fire on Clarke who slipped and fell to his death on the sidewalk below. He died as a result of the fall. He was not hit by police bullets nor did he shoot himself."

"Fitz" was lying on the sidewalk in front of his quarters", said Burroughs. " We were over there while most people were keeping a respectful distance. It was quite obvious that Sergeant Fitzgibbon was dead.

The Army sergeant who was shot three times was lying immediately inside the door and appeared to be in considerable pain. We applied pressure bandages and within minutes the ambulance arrived along with our doctor."

SFC Sakmar, after being operated on in Vietnam, was air-evacuated to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.

"An ex-army provost marshall commenced an investigation within half an hour," said Burroughs. " Most of the rest of the night was involved in preparing casualty messages."

There is one story that those who know Technical Sergeant Fitzgibbon remember him most for, beyond his ability as an outstanding NCO, beyond his ability as a damned good crew chief.

Upon each trip he made to Hong Kong, "Fitz" would invariably make one purchase regardless of what else he might buy. It took the same form on each trip -- a brown paper package -- and the contents were always the same. "Fitz" would take quite a ribbing about his purchase but never once did he explain. However, one evening several weeks before his death, members of the 1173rd finally learned "Fitz's" secret. He was surrounded by a group of small Vietnamese children, obviously street urchins. He was passing out a piece of bubble gum to each dirty little hand being held out to him. Bubble gum he would buy on each trip to Hong Kong.

Technical Sergeant Fitzgibbon had just finished his customary ritual of passing out the gum at 2145 hours when he was shot and killed. The quarters where he lived was named in his memory. The Fitzgibbon BEQ was the first known military installation to be named in memory of a serviceman to die in Vietnam.

Others followed: Holloway, Radcliff, Frenzell, Jones, Enari and Meyerkord, just to name a few, but Fitzgibbbon was the first.

" There is a Fitzgibbon on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Richard's son was in the United States Marine Corps. He died in the same country that his father did -- nine years later on the 7th of September 1965. He was killed in action in Chu Li," said Alice Del Rossi. " I have a reoccuring dream that I am standing in front of the memorial with a mallet and chisel in my hand and inscribing Richard's name next to his son's. I have been trying for seven years to get his name on the wall and although I have all but given up hope I cannot break faith with my brother for I know his name belongs there."

The next time you visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC., look beyond the names, even beyond your own reflection, and if you look deep enough you will see the image of a young man standing on a street in Saigon passing out chewing gum to small Vietnamese children. But don't bother looking for his name -- only his spirit dwells there -- for there is NO ROOM ON THE WALL.


written by

Master Sergeant Ray Bows

United States Army ( Retired )



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submitted by

HISTORICAL MILITARIA

BIOGRAPHICAL RESEARCHER - ARMY