Fitzgerald named to Board of Trustees

Date: 7/27/2009

Gov. Deval Patrick has appointed John J. Fitzgerald of Longmeadow to the Board of Trustees of the Holyoke Soldiers Home.

Fitzgerald is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and a retired high school history teacher in the Longmeadow Public Schools. He served from 1971 to 2004, retiring as chairperson of the History Department. He is currently a member of the Longmeadow School Committee.

Fitzgerald is a U.S. Army veteran and served in the military from 1964 to 1968. A combat veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, Fitzgerald served in the Republic of Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division. Wounded in action as a Combat Infantry Platoon Leader, he was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge and the National Defense Medal. He retired from the Army with the rank of Captain.

Fitzgerald is the Recording Secretary of the Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee. He has been an elected delegate to the Democratic National Convention and the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention. He is active with a number of local political and social groups.

He is the co-author of the highly acclaimed history of the Vietnam Conflict titled "The Vietnam War: A History in Documents" (Oxford University Press, 2002).

In commenting on his recent appointment, Fitzgerald stated, "I hope to be of service to the veterans who have served our country. The Holyoke Soldiers Home currently provides outstanding service to our veterans. I intend to help them maintain that level of service."