| Michael John Fitzmaurice | |
| Birth Date: | 9 March 1950 |
| Birth Place: | Jamestown, North Dakota |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1969-1972 (US Army), 1987-2011 (South Dakota National Guard) |
| Rank: | Specialist Four |
| Unit: | 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division |
| Battles: | Vietnam War |
| Awards: | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Michael John Fitzmaurice (born March 9, 1950) is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War.
Fitzmaurice joined the United States Army from his birth city of Jamestown, North Dakota in 1969,[1] and by March 23, 1971, was serving as a specialist four in Troop D, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
During a firefight on that day, in Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam, Fitzmaurice smothered the blast of an enemy-thrown explosive charge with his flak vest and body to protect other soldiers. Seriously wounded and partially blinded by the blast, he then continued to fight the enemy. After his rifle was damaged by a second explosive blast, Fitzmaurice proceeded to acquire another rifle from a Viet Cong sapper, defeating him with his bare hands, and continued to fight, refusing medical evacuation.
Fitzmaurice survived his wounds, discharged in 1972[2] and was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1973.[3]
Fitzmaurice joined the South Dakota Army and Air National Guard and worked with local VA[4] from 1987 and retired in 2011.[5]
In October 2024, Fitzmaurice joined 15 other Medal of Honor recipients in publicly endorsing Donald Trump for president.[6]
Specialist Fitzmaurice's official Medal of Honor citation reads: