Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Regiment:

    38th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July 19, 1918

    Headquarters, 3d Division, A.E.F., Citation Orders No. 22 (July 8, 1919)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Sergeant James Fitzgerald (ASN: 552557), United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the World War I Victory Medals awarded him. While serving with Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, as a member of a reconnoitering patrol on 19 July 1918, his patrol being suddenly fired on by machine guns from a German strong point occupied by his platoon and one member of the patrol being killed, Sergeant Fitzgerald was the only member of the patrol to remain until his mission had been accomplished, after which he killed two Germans. [A Distinguished Service Cross was awarded for this action.]

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Regiment:

    38th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    July 19, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 9 (1923)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant James Fitzgerald (ASN: 552557), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during the battle of the Marne, France, 19 July 1918. Sergeant Fitzgerald repeatedly volunteered for patrol duty during the period of the Germans’ occupation south of the Marne, and while a member of a reconnoitering patrol, his patrol was fired upon by machine guns from a German strong point. The patrol withdrew with the exception of Sergeant Fitzgerald, who remained in the vicinity under a heavy fire and courageously continued his reconnaissance until his mission had been accomplished, after which he killed two Germans and returned with valuable information.