Scholars continue to disagree on when the Vietnam War truly began. Some historians trace its origins back to 1887, when Vietnam was incorporated into French Indochina under colonial rule, while others point to 1946, when Ho Chi Minh led an armed uprising against French colonial authority. A third interpretation emphasizes 1950, when the United States began significantly increasing financial and military assistance to support French forces in the region.
For many years, however, the U.S. government officially treated 1961 as the starting point for American involvement when compiling casualty records. This classification meant that personnel who died prior to that date—such as Air Force Tech. Sgt. Richard Fitzgibbon Jr., killed in 1956—were not initially recognized as Vietnam War fatalities.
After sustained advocacy from Fitzgibbon’s family, the Department of Defense ultimately revised the official start date of the conflict to November 1, 1955. This change allowed early losses to be formally included in the record, correcting the historical accounting and ensuring recognition of those who died during the earliest phase of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
Richard Fitzgibbon Jr.’s untimely death
Richard Fitzgibbon Jr., born June 21, 1920, in Massachusetts, had a military career that included service in two branches of the U.S. armed forces. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II and later joined the U.S. Air Force, eventually attaining the rank of technical sergeant. Assigned to the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) in Vietnam, Fitzgibbon helped train South Vietnamese pilots for operational duties.
On June 8, 1956, Fitzgibbon was serving as a crew chief when his unit encountered hostile fire during an operational mission. At some point during the deployment, he reportedly became involved in a heated exchange with Staff Sgt. Edward C. Clarke. Despite the disagreement, Fitzgibbon continued performing his responsibilities and directed the radio operator to concentrate on completing the mission.
Later that day in Saigon, Fitzgibbon was handing out candy to local children when he encountered Clarke again. Clarke, who was reportedly intoxicated and remained angry over their earlier dispute, fatally shot Fitzgibbon. Vietnamese authorities soon detained Clarke, but during the arrest he fell or jumped from a second-story balcony. Clarke subsequently died from his injuries.
Not classified as a casualty of the Vietnam War
Richard Fitzgibbon Jr. died during the Vietnam War era, but at the time, his death wasn’t officially linked to the conflict. His family was heartbroken by the loss, and his son, Richard Fitzgibbon III, later enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to serve in Vietnam. Tragically, he was killed in 1965 after stepping on a landmine.
Their deaths represent one of only three known instances where both a father and son were killed in the Vietnam War.
In 1988, a relative named Richard DelRossi visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. He was able to find the name of Richard Fitzgibbon III on the wall, but not that of Fitzgibbon Jr. This was because, at the time, the memorial only included names of those who died after 1961—the year the Department of Defense had designated as the war’s official start.
Richard Fitzgibbon Jr.’s family advocates for a change
After returning home, Richard DelRossi shared his father’s story with the rest of the family, and together they launched a petition to have Tech. Sgt. Richard Fitzgibbon Jr.’s name added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Their efforts stretched almost a decade, but despite their persistence, they made little progress.
In 1997, their luck changed when they visited a traveling replica of the memorial and met U.S. Representative Ed Markey (D-MA). Deeply moved by the family’s account, Markey—who would later become a U.S. Senator—took up their cause. Although he encountered bureaucratic resistance, he remained committed. His determination paid off: the Department of Defense revised the official start date of the Vietnam War to November 1, 1955, coinciding with the establishment of the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) in Vietnam.
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Finally, on Memorial Day in 1999, the Fitzgibbon family stood before the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as Richard Fitzgibbon Jr.’s name was officially added—honoring the sacrifice they had long fought to have recognized.