In Memoriam

(reprinted from TheState.com, February 15, 2006)

Marine’s death stuns Citadel
‘It’s like the loss of a family member’
By CHUCK CRUMBO
Staff Writer
 

The Citadel mourned one of its own Wednesday after learning Marine Lt. Almar Fitzgerald died of wounds suffered in the Iraq war.

“It certainly is a sad day for the college,” said Col. Joe Trez, director of the president’s support office. “It’s like the loss of a family member.”

Fitzgerald, a Lexington native, died Tuesday in a military hospital in Germany where he had been treated for injuries suffered in a bomb blast about a week ago.

Fitzgerald was one of two Marines from South Carolina whose deaths were announced Wednesday.

Staff Sgt. Jay Collado, 31, of Columbia, was killed Monday when the vehicle he was driving was struck by a bomb, the Defense Department said.

The deaths of Fitzgerald and Collado raised the number of troops with S.C. ties to die in the war to 39.

The 24-year-old Fitzgerald, who graduated in 2004, was the 11th Citadel alum to die in the Iraq war, but the first who was a native of South Carolina.

Maj. Ken Boes, a tactical officer on The Citadel staff, wrote a letter of recommendation that helped Fitzgerald gain admission to Officer Candidate School and realize his dream to lead Marines.

“He felt like it was something he had always wanted to do,” Boes said. “He wanted to serve his country ... and he wanted to challenge himself.”

At the Charleston military college, Fitzgerald served as executive officer of Company M, 3rd Battalion, during his senior year, mentoring and leading cadets.

He also worked as a supervisor for The Citadel Foundation’s Calling Center, which uses cadets to help recruit donors to the college.

“He had such a contagious personality,” said Rachel Meuser, assistant director of annual giving. “He genuinely cared about people.”

Everyone who knew Fitzgerald remembers his smile, Boes said. “He always was upbeat and positive. He lived life to the fullest.”

Fitzgerald, whom Boes nicknamed “Fitz,” led by example. “He was always ready to help guys who were not doing well.”

At 5-foot-8 and about 160 pounds, Fitzgerald was one of the smallest players on the Lexington High School football team. But Fitzgerald, a cornerback, never backed away from a challenge, said Mark Cagle, who was the team’s defensive coordinator.

“He always trusted his technique and did what he practiced,” said Cagle, who is now head football coach at White Knoll High School. “He always gave his best and expected his teammates ... to give their best for the team.”

Fitzgerald was an infantry officer based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., friends said. He had been in Iraq about six months and was scheduled to return home in March, Meuser said.

Like all troops, Fitzgerald knew there was a chance he would not return alive.

In a documentary titled “Making of a Marine Officer,” Fitzgerald talked about a table outside the officer school chow hall, covered with pictures of fallen Marines.

“The purpose of that is to be basically a reality check,” Fitzgerald told the interviewer. “This could be you in the next couple of months — just a picture.”