World War II Honoree

Archie Allen Fitzgerald

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Columbia, Tennessee

Honored By

William A. Fitzgerald

Relationship

Brother

STAFF SERGEANT. VOLUNTEERED FOR THE AIR CORPS ONE DAY AFTER THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK. WITH NO TRAINING HE WAS DEPLOYED TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC IMMEDIATELY AND ASSIGNED TO THE 67TH, THEN LATER, THE 339TH FIGHTER SQUADRON. HE LANDED ON GUADALCANAL TWO WEEKS AFTER THE MARINES INITIAL BEACHHEAD. AS AN ARMORER ATTACHED TO A MARINE UNIT, HIS DUTY WAS LOADING AND MAINTAINING GUNS ON FIGHTER PLANES. FOR HEROIC PERFORMANCE, EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS CONDUCT IN PERFORMANCE OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND ACHIEVEMENT, HE RECEIVED BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT, THE LEGION OF MERIT MEDAL. HE ALSO SHARED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION AWARDED TO THE MARINE UNIT. AFTER THREE OTHER CAMPAIGNS AND TWO AND ONE HALF YEARS OVERSEAS, HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED SEPTEMBER 13, 1945.