Veteran Council “2016 Veteran of the Year Award”

Each year in celebration of “Veterans Day” the Linden Veterans Council select a veteran to be honored as “Veteran of the Year”The members of the Linden Veterans Council; American Legion Post #102, Catholic War Veterans, Post #497, Linden Marine League, Martin Danowski Detachment, Post 91, Polish Legion of American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans Of America, Chapter 779, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1397, select a veteran who practices patriotism, honorably served his country in the military service, came home and continued to serve his country and community.
This Year’s Linden Veterans Council Nomination, for“2016 Linden Veteran of the Year” is Michael (Mike) Fitzsimmons, Vietnam Veteran, member of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 779.
Michael Fitzsimmons was born in Newark, NJ in 1946. In the late 50’s he moved to Irvington, NJ and graduated from Irvington High school.
In 1966, Mike was drafted and reported to Fort Dix, NJ for induction into US Army. Following his induction, he was sent to Fort Hood, Texas for training in the infantry, where he completed both his Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training, and assigned to Vietnam duty. Michael was sent Fort Sill, Oklahoma to train for infantry combat duty in Vietnam.
Michael was assigned to 17th Air Cavalry as part of the Americal Division. The Americal Division won their distinction as a distinguished combat unit participating in the battle of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, invasion of Japanese Islands Biri, Capul, Ticao, and Burias. In 1945, the Division landed on Leyte and Cebu Islands, Philippines.
The Americal Division, in Vietnam, never lost a battle and is noted for its exemplary performance during the North Vietnam TET offensive, The Battle of Lo Giang and the Battle of Nui Hoac Ridge (Hill 352). Michael’s unit trained to provide security coverage in protecting vehicles and personnel when their vehicles broke down on roads and were exposed to enemy attacks. The Americal Division missions would go into villages to perform a search and destroy mission. In a village in the Tan Hy valley, south of Da Nang, Michael was wounded and received his Purple Heart. He spent three days in a M.A.S.H. unit, then was flown to a hospital in Saigon to heal the wound and cure the infection.
In 1968, Michael returned to New Jersey. He joined several veterans’ organization actively working on veteran service needs such as the PTSD ward in Lyons Hospital. He worked industrially to establish the VVA Chapter 779 in Elizabeth, NJ. Mike participated in the high school learning centers to teach students about Viet Nam and veteran experiences and why the USA is a great nation for which he was very proud and honored to have served and continues to serve any way he can.
Michael is known as a generous individual with a charitable heart. One of his major accomplishments is the establishing of the local food bank in Rahway.
While working for PSE&G he was able to involve not only the company, but also many of his fellow employees to help with the food bank. The company supplied trucks and allowed the workers to load and unload the trucks of food where and when needed. Mike also works with the Rahway Police Dept. in a bicycle program whereby stolen and unclaimed bicycles are taken to the Rahway State Prison where the inmates refurbish the bikes and then they are taken back to the Rahway Police Dept. then Mike would distribute the bikes to various schools at Christmastime with the help of the Rahway Marine Corps Junior ROTC. Mike also does speaking engagements at special needs high schools for troubled youths in Elizabeth.
At Christmastime Michael donates over 100 turkeys for needy families, which he pays for from his own pocket. He never asks for anything in return for all he does. When VVA Chapter was struggling to raise funds for a memorial for the fallen brothers in Elizabeth, Mike worked endlessly to raise the $40,000 needed for the monument. The monument would not have been possible without his efforts. The monument stands proudly near Jefferson High School. Michael also consistently donates significant amounts of money to charity but insists he remain anonymous.
The Linden Veterans Council congratulates Michael Fitzsimmons, member of Vietnam Veterans of America, as the “2016 Veteran of the Year”.