Joseph Edward Fitzgerald
Remains Returned - 1997
Summary
  • Name:  Joseph Edward Fitzgerald
  • Rank/Branch:  E3/US Army
  • Unit:  LLRP, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
  • Date of Birth:  25 November 1948 (St. Johnsbury VT)
  • Home City of Record:  Northbridge, MA.
  • Date of Loss:  31 May 1967
  • Country of Loss:  South Vietnam
  • Loss Coordinates:  145215N 1085242E (BS718450)
  • Status (in 1973):  Missing in Action
  • Category:  2
  • Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:  Ground
  • Other Personnel in Incident:  Brian K. McGar; John A. Jakovac (both missing)
  • REMARKS:  Remains returned 02/97

Synopsis
On May 31, 1967, PFC Brian K. McGar, PFC Joseph E. Fitzgerald, riflemen; Sgt. John A. Jakovac, ammo bearer; Cpl. Charles G. Rogerson, and SP4 Carl D. Flowers were members of a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LLRP) deployed in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam.

The LLRP unit was inserted to move to the base of Hill 310 and to check out an area along a hedge row where several Viet Cong had been seen and fired upon by gunships earlier that day.  Then, at night, the patrol was to move to the top of Hill 310 to establish an observation point.  Early that afternoon, a report was received that the patrol had established a position and reported everything was normal.

At 2030 hours, the patrol reported that they were going to proceed to the top of the hill to establish the observation point as briefed.  Radio contact with the patrol was lost after that, as the patrol failed to  make a scheduled report at 2145 hours.

On the morning  of June 1, search elements began sweeping the area.  During the search, bodies of Rogerson and Flowers were discovered in fresh graves.  The search element also found an extended NAK-47, 5.56 and 7.62 millimeter brass as well as hand grenade fragments.  Blood trails were discovered leading from the area.  Searches conducted from June 2 through July 12 proved unsuccessful.


25th Infantry Division
3rd Brigade
Though the Fitzgerald family wouldn't learn the details for several years, in January 1994 investigators began turning over a sweet potato field in Quang Ngai Province.  Using trowels to dig the earth and screens to sift it, guided by ground-penetrating radar and the memories of a former Viet Cong guerrilla, investigators uncovered the clues they needed over a two-week period:

Bone fragments.  Eighty-six teeth, enough for three men.  The sole of a left book, size 10.  A tarnished brass belt buckle, a zipper, and five steel-tipped bullet fragments.

Mere remnants.  But they were sufficient for the government scientists who, working in a Hawaiian lab, painstakingly closed in on the identities of three young men:

Scientists obtained DNA samples by grinding up some of the bones, and then took blood samples from surviving family members.  It was a good match between the DNA from one of the bones and the DNA in the blood of SSgt. Fitzgerald's sister, Joann.




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Funeral of SSgt. Joseph E. Fitzgerald at Arlington National Cemetery