Benjamin Fitzgerald

ASN: O-445349

Benjamin Lee Fitzgerald registered for the draft on September 22, 1941. Born October 22, 1919, he was from McPhee, Colorado but lived in Fort Collins, Colorado at the time of his registration where he was a student.

This twenty-one-year-old was 6’-0”, 195 pounds with a light brown complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair. A scar on his right kneecap would aid in his identification.

Fitzgerald took advanced ROTC training in college and was commissioned a second lieutenant on May 19, 1941. He was inducted into the US Army at Lowery Field. The following December he married Joanne McMurdo of Ft. Collins, Colorado.

They had a son, Gerald Benjamin, born December 20, 1942. 2nd LT Fitzgerald received advanced training at Lowery Field, Colorado, Camp Roberts, California, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

He was assigned to the 319th Field Artillery Group, B-Battery of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and shipped out with the battalion to North Africa arriving in Casablanca May 10, 1943.

Company Morning Reports

Company Morning Reports were produced every morning by the individual Army units to record personnel matters. The following events (see images below) were reported:

•  1st Lt Benjamin L. Fitzgerald, 0-445349, duty to Missing in Action at 1700, October 6, 1943.

• 1st Lt. Benjamin L. Fitzgerald, 0-445349, from Missing in Action to Killed in Action, October 6th 1943, about 1700. (see below)

• During the fighting in the “Chiunzi Pass,” 1st LT Fitzgerald is mentioned in the Unit Journal of September 19, 1943.

1st Lt. Benjamin L. Fitzgerald fought in the major campaigns of Sicily and Naples-Foggia. Upon occupying Naples, Italy, the 319th was immediately called upon to a forward combat position 30 miles northwest of Naples near the village of Villa Literno.

The following day the 319th moved north to the outskirts of Cancello de Arnone in an effort to to take and hold the bridge crossing (see photos below) over the Volturno River behind which the Germans were retreating. This was only expected to go on until General Clark and the British could regroup along the south bank.

Author, Joseph Covais, spoke with several 319th veterans about 1st LT Fitzgerald and the following is an excerpt from his book BATTERY.

“On the morning of October 6th, Lieutenant Fitzgerald had taken a forward observation team out early that day. They occupied a small farmhouse on the outskirts of Arnone until the enemy launched their concentrated artillery and infantry attack, forcing the party to abandon their advanced position. Though snipers and machine guns were peppering the building, Fitzgerald provided covering fire to allow the men under him to make their escape. The Lieutenant continued to serve as a one man defense, occupying the enemy until his men reached a point of safety.”

“By late that day, directing his battery’s part of the battalion counter-fire, Fitzgerald was using a church steeple (see Church of Maria SS Assunta photo below) as his OP. It was an obvious observation point and as sure to attract fire as it would be useful in directing it. The expected rounds of 88mm artillery didn’t take long to arrive. One made a direct hit on the steeple. Fitzgerald was found dead in the rubble and his radio operator was severely wounded.”

From the diary of a fellow B-Battery soldier we learned the following;

“October 2-6th. We were now at what you call the Battle at the Volturno River. October 6 my First Lieutenant (Fitzgerald) asked me or a buddy (Ernest Raulerson) which one of you wants to go with me as a forward observer for our artillery. Raulerson said he would go. So I stayed on the telephone at the Artillery. After ten hours of firing we hit a German truck, etc. I said to Raulerson where are you? --- Up in a church steeple. About that time the Germans shot the church steeple off and the Lieutenant was killed and Raulerson wounded.”

His service was awarded with the Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Merit Badge with Oak Leaf Cluster, European/African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars, Silver Star Medal (see below) and the Purple Heart.

Silver Star Medal

Fitzgerald, Benjamin A. 1t Lt.: SSM, PH, GO 37, 1943.

O-445349. For gallantry in action on (date censored) 1943 at (censored), Lt. Fitzgerald reconnaissance officer, Battery “B” 319th GFAB, with a group of soldiers acting as forward Observers and (censored) was forced by concentrated artillery and rifle fire to evacuate the post. He covered the departure of his group while sniper fire was directed against them at the only door of the house they occupied. Throughout their movement from (censored) Lt. Fitzgerald kept his men ahead of him and served as rear guard against snipers. When they reached their rendezvous, Lt. Fitzgerald was missing and later found dead. With coolness and courage and unswerving devotion to duty he has set the safety of his men above his own in a manner after the highest traditions of the United States Army. Next of kin, his widow, Mrs. Joanne M. Fitzgerald, 117 W. Myrtle St., Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Days before the 319th departed for the Volturno River mission LT Fitzgerald posed (see below) with his Executive Officer, 1st LT Hawkins, in Naples, Italy.

1st LT Hawkins wrote (see letter below) the Fitzgerald family on December 7, 1943, expressing his sympathy and condolences from B-Battery of the 319th. The men and officers of B-Battery sent the Fitzgerald family a $100 bond, in recognition of the high esteem LT Fitzgerald was held.

photo and letter courtesy of the Fitzgerald family

Benjamin Fitzgerald was the first man in the 319th to be awarded the Silver Star. He was laid to rest in the Grandview Cemetery, Fort Collins, Colorado.

God Bless this hero.