Local resident taking part in Guantanamo Bay scouting force
Published on August 27th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - With 485 airborne parachute jumps and nearly 30 years of active service in the US Army and National Guard, his most nerve-wracking military experience lasted four days.
Waiting at Fort Campbell, KY Airport with a one-way ticket to Cuba, retired Army Chief Warrant Officer and Stoneham resident John Fitzgerald would have participated in the ill-fated Bay of Pigs fiasco or acted as a member of an invasion force responding to the Cuban Missile Crisis had the mission not been called off.
Handed a switchblade style knife containing only a sharpened hook, the then member of the 101st Airborne Division realized how dangerous the mission would be.
"We said, 'What is this for?' and they said, 'to cut yourselves out of the trees'. It was then that I realized that we had no set drop zone. They were just going to drop us wherever they could," recalled Fitzgerald, who later served in the US Special Forces Reserves from 1964-1990 as a green beret.
"I was hardly 18-years-old. I was told nothing. They said, 'here's a flack jacket, a switch blade, and some ammo and that's it," he added.
Now nearly 40 years later, Fitzgerald's son, US Army National Guard Buck Sergeant Sean Fitzgerald will travel to that same Caribbean Island early this September to guard an unspecified number of America's newest and most dangerous enemies.
Part of the recently activated National Guard's 1st Battalion, 181st Light Infantry regiment C-Company, the younger Fitzgerald will act as part of Guantanamo Bay's (GTMO's), scouting force, which patrols the US base's surrounding area to defend against possible attempts to free the captured Al Queda operatives detained there.
"His mission down there is to protect the island from anybody who would be foolish enough to try to free the prisoners," said the elder Fitzgerald of his son's upcoming tour of duty.
Departing from his family and job as a Stoneham Firefighter on August 5, the younger Fitzgerald has spent the past month training at Fort Dix, NJ, reviewing offensive and defensive military tactics for his new responsibilities, says his father.
Now standing on the civilian side of the fence, the retired Army veteran cited many differences between his years in the military compared to his son's service. First, although the elder Fitzgerald served during the Vietnam War era, he never fought in combat, spending much of his time stationed in countries such as Norway and Germany conducting training exercises.
"We weren't in real conflict…I thought it was fun, but now it's a whole new ballgame. There's far more concerns now for any guy or woman in the Armed Forces because so many people want to kill us," Fitzgerald commented.
Because of the new threats America faces, the elder Fitzgerald also has to deal with another unfamiliar experience, patiently remaining at home in wait for his son's return.
"I believe in the military. The difference is when he's doing it, I have worries - especially in today's climate," the retired Army veteran explained.
Yet while Fitzgerald naturally worries about his son's well being, he also spoke about his pride in his son's professional attitude and dedication. Detailing an example of that loyalty, the former Green Beret recalled his son's reaction to being activated for the second time in four years.
"He's one of the only units so far that's been activated twice. His mother was concerned about that and she wanted to know why his unit was activated twice when other units had only been activated once. Sean said, 'it's because we're the best," his father proudly boasted.
"Obviously I'm very proud. Not a lot of people are staying in the program…They went over so people can enjoy the liberties we have here. You have to be proud of that," he added.
Withstanding the unlikely event that GTMO is attacked, Fitzgerald claims his son's largest obstacles will be the sharp corral rocks that cover Cuba's beaches and the discomforts of an infantry scout's nomadic lifestyle.
"They told him to bring his knee pads because with the corral on the beaches you could fall and cut yourself…They'll live in sea huts and there's 9-10 people in a hut which is different experience if you're a normal human being and sleep in your own room…It's still an important mission, but that kind of duty to me is more strenuous in terms of being boring instead of strenuous in terms of being shot at," commented the senior Fitzgerald.
Yet with two-years of service stationed with the First Infantry Division in Germany from 1997-1999 and a 15-month stint of service serving as part of a peace-keeping force in Bosnia, Fitzgerald's son is no stranger to the luxury-barren lifestyle of the Army.
In fact, based in Bosnia at a location containing a 12-foot high wall to provide cover from small arms fire and two bunkers to protect against mortar rounds, the younger Fitzgerald spent most of his time bulking up during his two-daily visits to the base's gym.
"They got in pretty good physical shape. They used to go to the gym twice a day because they had nothing else to do. When he came back, he was mean and lean," Fitzgerald bragged.
Departing for Cuba on this September, Fitzgerald will serve a minimum of one-year and maximum of two-year tour of service at the Army base.
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