[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S1991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 TRIBUTE TO SP4C MICHAEL FITZMAURICE--VIETNAM VETERAN FROM SOUTH DAKOTA

 Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute today 
to Michael Fitzmaurice, a South Dakotan and fellow Vietnam veteran who 
went far beyond the call of duty during his service for our country. 
Michael is a native of Cavour, SD, and served as an Army specialist 
[SPC] 4th Class. Michael's singular accomplishment in Vietnam came when 
he singlehandedly saved the lives of three of his fellow soldiers. 
These reminders of his heroism couldn't be more appropriately timed 
given the presence of our brave troops currently stationed in and 
around Bosnia. Recently, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and the Hartford 
Area News published articles about Michael.
  Leaping onto a grenade and saving the lives of three soldiers; 
tossing two live grenades back at the enemy; charging North Vietnamese 
troops--weaponless in the midst of combat--these are all accounts of 
SPC Michael Fitzmaurice's courage during battle. Michael's actions fill 
me with a sense of respect and pride. Americans can rest easy knowing 
men and women such as Specialist Fitzmaurice defend the values for 
which our country stands. I commend Specialist Fitzmaurice's example of 
commitment and bravery. He is truly a worthy recipient of the 
prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery.
  Mr. President, part of what makes a soldier fight to the finish lies 
in the sense of dignity and respect for humanity our parents and 
communities instill within us. Having grown up not far from Specialist 
Fitzmaurice, I can vouch for the family-oriented atmosphere in which we 
were raised. The Golden Rule was not just an adage, but words by which 
we were taught to live by each and every day. Michael's heroic actions 
were premised by years of being taught respect for one's country, 
community, and fellow man.
  Courage. Bravery. Selflessness. These are the things of which heroes 
like SPC Michael Fitzmaurice are made. I would like to extend my 
deepest gratitude for the example set by Michael and the thousands of 
brave men and women who similarly have fought or even died so that 
others might experience freedom. Time and again, people like Michael 
Fitzmaurice demonstrate to us the interminable vigor of the human 
spirit. Mr. President, I ask that articles which recently appeared in 
the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and the Hartford Area News, be printed in 
the Record.
  The articles follow:

                 Hartford Man To Be Honored for Heroism

       Pierre.--Michael John Fitzmaurice of Hartford will receive 
     a unique honor later this year for heroism while serving in 
     Vietnam 25 years ago.
       Legislation providing the Hartford man with the state's 
     only set of Congressional Medal of Honor license plates is 
     nearing the end of its Statehouse journey.
       The bill was approved 66-1 Tuesday in the House; it had 
     cleared the Senate earlier but must be returned there because 
     of changes made by the House.
       Fitzmaurice received the Medal of Honor for bravery in 
     1971. When three North Vietnamese hand grenades were lobbed 
     into the bunker where Fitzmaurice and four fellow soldiers 
     hid, he pitched two of them out and dropped on the third one.
       ``He absorbed the blast, shielded his fellow soldiers,'' 
     said Rep. Hal Wick, R-Sioux Falls, ``and although suffering 
     from serious multiple wounds and partial loss of sight, he 
     charged out of the bunker, engaged the enemy until his rifle 
     was damaged by the blast of an enemy hand grenade, and then 
     while in search of another weapon, encountered an enemy in 
     hand-to-hand combat.''
                                                                    ____


                          Medal of Honor Hero

                             (By Pat Smith)

       Michael Fitzmaurice is South Dakota's only resident 
     Congressional Medal of Honor Hero. He lives quietly on Second 
     Street and you will find him at church on Sunday, perhaps a 
     basketball or volleyball game on Friday. He helps with 
     softball, Jamboree Days, kids games, the parade (of which he 
     was marshal this year) and many other activities in our town. 
     A quiet man with a loving spirit. Overwhelmed by the fact 
     that he received the Medal of Honor and will tell you that he 
     was just in the wrong place at the wrong time . . . but he 
     was doing the right thing.
       This quiet man will be honored by the South Dakota 
     Legislature with a distinctive license plate. Senate Bill #98 
     has passed the Senate and House and will be sent for the 
     governor's signature this week.
       Michael received his Congressional Medal of Honor the same 
     day as Leo Thorsness at the White House from then president, 
     Richard Nixon in 1973. He received it for saving the lives of 
     his comrades during a battle in Vietnam. He threw two enemy 
     hands grenades up in the air and fell on the remaining one to 
     save their lives. The results were eye damage, shrapnel 
     wounds and broken ear drums, but saved lives.
       This is a story like something you might see on television. 
     A real life hero living in a small town, going about his 
     life, volunteering to serve his country, saving lives, then 
     going back to living his life in a small town again. And the 
     reason this is such a great story is, although Michael 
     Fitzmaurice is a Congressional Medal of Honor hero, he puts 
     on no airs. He is a hero going to work each day, helping put 
     up and take down chairs at meetings, supporting his town, 
     school and church and just being a friend and neighbor. If 
     the media didn't bring it up, you would never know. Maybe 
     that is what a real hero is . . . doing what must be done and 
     then just going on.

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