[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9711]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING CAPTAIN CURTIS FITZGERALD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JEB HENSARLING

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 19, 2008

  Mr. HENSARLING. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Captain 
Curtis Fitzgerald for his distinguished military service and service to 
Texas veterans.
  In 1969, Captain Fitzgerald began what has become a life-long service 
to his nation. Just thirty days after completing flight school, Captain 
Fitzgerald went to Vietnam with the 189th Assault Helicopter Company to 
fly Huey Helicopters. Captain Fitzgerald fought in major battles such 
as the Battle of Hamburger Hill, where he flew multiple re-supply 
missions and was shot down for the first time, but certainly not the 
last time.
  During the Siege of Ben Het, Captain Fitzgerald's aircraft received 
103 bullet holes during another re-supply mission. Despite the damage, 
he managed to complete the mission without a single casualty. In the 
1600 hours he flew during combat, Captain Fitzgerald was shot down a 
total of six times.
  In addition to serving as a Flight Leader, Captain Fitzgerald served 
as the Air Mission Commander for the initial invasion of Cambodia. It 
was during the on-going Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols into Cambodia 
and Laos that Captain Fitzgerald was shot down again, this time while 
helping to identify enemy positions. He managed to not only identify 
their position, but return the damaged aircraft back to safety.
  Captain Fitzgerald went above and beyond his call to duty when he 
volunteered to extend his deployment for six more months to ensure the 
incoming units had adequate experience. Considering all this, it is no 
wonder Captain Fitzgerald received a Silver Star medal, three 
Distinguished Flying Cross medals, three Bronze Star medals, nineteen 
Air medals, and one Purple Heart for his tour in Vietnam.
  After completing his degree at the University of Houston, Captain 
Fitzgerald returned to Palestine, but his dedication to the military 
did not end. He has continued to work closely with the Veterans 
Administration, various Veterans Service Organizations, and has worked 
extensively with Palestine-area Post Traumatic Stress Disorder support 
groups. Fellow men and women in uniform tout Captain Fitzgerald's 
dedication to ensuring that those returning from war receive 
assistance.
  In addition to his service-related activities, Captain Fitzgerald 
started a real estate firm specializing in farm and ranch sales, served 
on the Parks and Recreation Board, the YMCA Board, and founded the 
Anderson County Soccer Association.
  He is a husband to his wife of twenty-eight years, Karen, and a 
grandfather to two grandsons.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Fifth District of Texas, I am humbled 
and privileged to recognize Captain Curtis Fitzgerald. As Calvin 
Coolidge once said, ``The nation which forgets its defenders will 
itself be forgotten.'' I for one am committed to ensuring this nation 
never forgets.

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