Royal C. Johnson Veterans Memorial Hospital

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, “Mike,” A.K.A. Michael J. Fitzmaurice

Walking the hallways of the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, you may have crossed paths with a Vietnam Army Veteran by the name of “Mike,” A.K.A. Michael J. Fitzmaurice. Mike respectfully served other Veterans as a VA plumber from 1987 – 2011. A very humble man, he is never one to bring attention to his military service or the fact he earned America’s highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions at Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam in 1971.

On 23 March 1971 at Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam.  Specialist Fitzmaurice and three fellow-soldiers were occupying a bunker when a company of North Vietnamese sappers infiltrated the area.  At the onset of the attack Specialist Fitzmaurice observed three explosive charges which had been thrown into the bunker by the enemy.  Mike then hurled two of the charges out of the bunker; then threw his flak vest and himself over the remaining charge.  By this courageous act he absorbed the blast and shielded his fellow-soldiers.  Although suffering from serious multiple wounds and partial loss of sight, he charged out of the bunker and engaged the enemy until his rifle was damaged by the blast of an enemy hand grenade.  While in search of another weapon, Specialist Fitzmaurice encountered and overcame an enemy sapper in hand-to-hand combat.  Having obtained another weapon, he returned to his original fighting position and inflicted additional casualties on the attacking enemy.  Although seriously wounded, Specialist Fitzmaurice refused to be medically evacuated, preferring to remain at his post. 

He was evacuated and treated in Japan and then transferred back to the states where he was hospitalized for 14 months and was discharged from military service in 1972.

He went about life in South Dakota, married his wife Patty, of now nearly 43 years, and became father to two sons (and is a grandfather to four grandchildren).  Mike signed up with the South Dakota Army National Guard in April 1973 and was working in a meat packing plant when he was summoned to Washington, D.C. in November 1973. There, President Richard Nixon awarded him the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism at Khe Sanh. In addition, Mike received other honors for his bravery and sacrifices including the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a Purple Heart. Mike continued with the Army National Guard until discharge in April 1990. In May 1990, he then joined the South Dakota Air National Guard and retired from military service in May 1992 with 23 years of devoted military service.

Mike was key to the VA Summer of Service event held at the Sioux Falls VA in June 2015, when the Medal of Honor Stamp honoring Vietnam Congressional Medal of Honor recipients was unveiled. He graciously autographed pages upon pages of stamps for other Veterans, their families, VA staff, volunteers and others – just another example of how he continues to serve Veterans, his former employer and his country.

In recognition for his service to country, South Dakota named the State Veterans Home for him in October 1998.  On March 30, 2016 he will help cut the ribbon on the newly constructed State Veterans Home.

The Sioux Falls VA Health Care System is proud and honored to have had Michael J. Fitzmaurice (as well as his wife Patty) as members of the VA team.