The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Colonel William Harold Fitch (MCSN: 0-55351), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam from 27 July 1967 to 1 August 1968. Throughout this period, Lieutenant Colonel Fitch performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Initially assigned as Assistant operations officer and subsequently as Operations Officer, he displayed exceptional skill and resourcefulness in planning and coordinating combat missions. Reassigned on 1 October 1967 as Commanding Officer of Marine All Weather Attach Squadron 533, he molded the unit into an effective strike force capable of accomplishing all assigned missions under the most adverse conditions. Exceptionally knowledgeable concerning the employment of the A-6 Intruder aircraft, Lieutenant Colonel Fitch expanded the squadron’s capabilities to assume increasingly demanding assignments deep into hostile territory. Under his dynamic leadership, his well trained aircrews completed over 2,300 sorties and delivered in excess of 13,800 tons of ordnance against the enemy. On 1 April 1968, Lieutenant Colonel Fitch was chosen to represent the Commanding General at the Commandant’s Aviation Training and Readiness Conference at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and earned the respect and admiration of all his associates through his extensive knowledge of the complex electronic weapons systems of the A-6 aircraft. Upon returning to Vietnam, he was assigned as Group Operations Officer and continued to distinguish himself in the 5,000 combat sorties which expended over 8,000 tons of ordnance, enabling the Group to establish an enviable combat record. By his dynamic leadership, exceptional professional ability and unwavering devotion to duty throughout, Lieutenant Colonel Fitch upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Colonel Fitch is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Colonel William Harold Fitch (MCSN: 0-55351), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Attack Systems Program Coordinator for Offensive Air Support Section, Air Weapons System Branch, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff (Air), from September 1968 to July 1970. Through his unswerving dedication to duty and his unusually perceptive understanding of both operational and developmental requirements of attack systems, Lieutenant Colonel Fitch identified and rapidly solved numerous operational and developmental problems of urgent interest to the Marine Corps. Lieutenant Colonel Fitch consistently demonstrated exceptional professional competence and unusual personal resourcefulness in establishing and strengthening Marine Corps light attack aircraft programs which were under the intense scrutiny of DOD and Congressional Staffs. His imaginative efforts to expand the operational capability of existing attack aircraft systems led directly to providing RABFAC beacons urgently required by combat units, qualification of the CTU-1A delivery container for night and all-weather drops by the A-6A RABFAC offset delivery technique, and establishment of a combat search and rescue project for Harrier. Although faced with seemingly inescapable and unfavorable Harrier and A-4th Marines program and budgetary decisions, Lieutenant Colonel Fitch distinguished himself repeatedly by re-establishing and substantiating the Marine Corps requirement for a high performance V/STOL light attack aircraft program. His exemplary leadership, resourceful management techniques, and unfailing good judgment have reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.