Late vet’s book tells of Vietnam War

CLARKS SUMMIT — Although he has been deceased for nine years, the memories of late veteran J.T. Fitzgerald lives on through his written accounts of his service in Vietnam and through his sister, Gerrie Carey.

J.T.’s first name was Jude, named after the patron saint of hope and lost causes. First, a Green Beret and later a CIA Operative, Fitzgerald spent 32 months over a total of six tours in Vietnam.

He was born on Dec. 10, 1938, in Scranton. He shares a birthday with Gerrie, who was born four years later. He completed two years at the University of Scranton, majoring in Civil War history. He then joined the National Guard in the U.S. Army. He then went into Special Forces and was drafted to Vietnam.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said Carey, who owns and has read her brother’s three books that describe his last three tours.

In each of his literary works, Fitzgerald gives a vivid description of his missions in the CIA and the hardships that the soldiers faced, including avoiding booby traps set by Viet Cong. His main character is Burt Courage, who joined the U.S. Army and later was recruited by the CIA. He speaks fluent Vietnamese and loves to drink Jack Daniels on the rocks.

In his first book – “Operation Stagecoach Red” – published in 1994, Mr. Fanning of Special Forces assigns Courage to capture the vice president of North Vietnam and head of North Vietnam Intelligence Service, Minh Nguyen Huy. Huy was in charge of mass roundups and executions of Catholics attempting to eradicate religious freedom. Courage poses as an East German journalist during this assignment. He receives help from a Vietnamese person named Thao. Hell-bent on revenge, Thao wants to capture Huy for the death of his father and brother.

In Fitzgerald’s second book “Traitor in White Laces,” published in 1996, Courage is assigned to find out why the Southern part of Vietnam is receiving fresh food and ammunition. He is given help by PRU’s (Provincial Reconnaissance Unit), who wear red berets.

Courage and his crew parachute in the mountains of Laos in the third story called “Alpha Blue Eagle.” They meet and receive help from the Hmongs, who are the inhabitants of the region. They had to build a camp to house a radar system that was able to alert if a Russian SAM (surface to air missiles) was locked on a plane. This radar caused aircraft losses to be reduced by 75%. A mystery ensues when the campsite is attacked.

All three of Fitzgerald’s books have been given positive reviews from readers. Fitzgerald was once quoted saying, “When people have finished all three of my books, they will have a better understanding of why we lost in Vietnam.”

After completing his six tours and returning safely home, Fitzgerald worked in the CIA, where he met his wife Linda Watson. He was later hired by Walgreen’s where he was in charge of theft security in their many drugstores. His job had him move to Adell, Wisconsin. He and Linda had three children — John, Casey, and Kelly — and six grandchildren. J.T. passed away on Nov. 17, 2015. Linda is in assisted living in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Clarks Summit has been honoring Fitzgerald’s service with a Hometown Heroes banner above Depot Street. His photo is shown next to his late brother Richard Fitzgerald, who also served in the U.S. Army. Rick received special orders and did his whole tour in Hawaii. Their other brother John Fitzgerald, who lives in North Abington Township, is a U.S. Army veteran as well. He served two tours in Vietnam as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He wrote a book called “The Vietnam War: A History in Documents.”