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Army Lt. Col. Harold Fritz was mere weeks away from leaving the Vietnam War unscathed and heading home to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, until he found himself amid a bloody firefight that would change his life and earn him the prestigious Medal of Honor.
Fritz, 81, was born in Chicago but in 1949, his family moved north to Lake Geneva, a Wisconsin tourist magnet. Fritz enjoyed a rather typical Midwestern upbringing, filled with hunting, fishing and Boy Scouts. He played sports and was a member of the Future Farmers of America chapter at Badger High School where he graduated in 1962.
Even at a young age, Fritz was responsible. His principal at Badger praised him as a person “everyone expected to succeed.”
Fritz, pursuing an education degree, attended the University of Tampa. When not in class, Fritz logged time at a factory to support Mary Ellen, his high school sweetheart who became his bride. Mary Ellen had become pregnant with the couple’s first child, Kimberly.
To support his growing family, Fritz dropped a few classes and picked up more factory hours. Uncle Sam noticed. He received a letter stating he was drafted. He chose to enlist and entered the Army in April 1966. He was selected for officer candidate school and after graduating OCS, Fritz was sent to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Supreme Act of Bravery
In January 1968, Fritz was assigned to Vietnam. He was promoted to platoon leader for Troop A of the 11th’s 1st Squadron. Having survived nearly a year in a war zone, he was ready to go home. But his leadership would be put to the test in a grueling firefight that seemed insurmountable.
Jan. 11, 1969, began like any other day. Fritz, a first lieutenant at the time, was leading an armored column of seven vehicles along a highway heading south from the Quan Loi Army base in South Vietnam to meet up with a truck convoy. Suddenly, about 270 North Vietnamese soldiers ambushed his troops. Fritz was severely wounded when his vehicle took a direct hit.
Bloody and shaken, but knowing he had to do something, Fritz jumped into his flaming vehicle and started repositioning about 24 of his troops that could still fight, along with the remaining vehicles, hoping it would give his platoon a chance to escape.
“You don’t have time to think about yourself,” Fritz told the Veterans History Project. “You’ve got to remember you have to survive long enough to get your people out of there.”
That’s when adrenaline really kicked in. Fritz ditched his own safety, sprinting from different vehicles, totally out in the open, to keep repositioning his soldiers to strengthen their defenses. Fritz tended to the wounded, handed out ammunition, directed their assault on the NVA, and emboldened the few troops still functioning to keep up the fight.
Fritz led by example, picking up a machine gun and blasting away, inspiring others to return fire, provoking the enemies to abandon the assault.
But they weren’t out of the woods yet.
Minutes after, a second wave of attackers ventured to within 7 feet of his platoon’s position. But Fritz didn’t think about being overwhelmed. He had only a bayonet and a pistol at this point, but it mattered little. Fritz rallied his small, battered group to charge the enemy, invoking significant casualties and pushing them out of position.
“When the odds are the greatest, then you’ve got to be the most daring in what you do to turn them around,” Fritz said. “That’s what happened.”
Finally, relief. Maybe. A backup platoon arrived but Fritz realized it wasn’t deployed adequately. Again, he ran through enemy fire to redirect the platoon’s position, which caused the NVA to nix the ambush completely.
“The North Vietnamese found we were a little tougher [of a] force than they thought,” Fritz told the Veterans History Project.
Lighter Saved Him
Despite being badly wounded, Fritz brushed off medical attention until all his troops were treated and evacuated. Eventually, he was sent to a hospital via helicopter and shrapnel was extracted from his neck and back, and a few gunshot wounds were treated.
What saved his life during this horrendous ordeal? Smoking. Sort of.
Fritz no longer smokes but he did while in Vietnam and a gift from his wife – a Zippo lighter – kept in his breast pocket, prevented a bullet from penetrating his chest.
“If it had not been there, it probably would have hit me in the heart and killed me,” Fritz said. “Not that I’m advocating smoking but had I not been a smoker at that particular point in time, maybe I wouldn’t be here to tell the story.”
He didn’t bring back many items upon leaving Vietnam in March 1969, but he made sure that Zippo was packed.
Medal of Honor ‘Overwhelming’
He remained in the Army and was assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington. In early 1971, he was getting ready to relocate to Fort Benning, Georgia when he fielded a surprise call.
“Congratulations, Capt. Fritz,” the caller said. “You’ve just been awarded the Medal of Honor.”
“At first, it was disbelief,” Fritz said. “It takes a while for it to really sink in.”
Fritz was invited to the White House where President Richard Nixon pinned the Medal of Honor – the nation’s highest award for valor – around his neck on March 2, 1971, joining five fellow Army troops and one Marine to receive the honor.
“It was really overwhelming,” Fritz said. “I feel very humble and proud to be a recipient.”
Fritz and Mary Ellen had two more children, sons Christopher and Jeffrey, and he stayed in the Army while finishing up his degree from the University of Tampa in 1975. In 1993, after almost 28 years in the Army, Fritz retired as a lieutenant colonel.
For the past three decades, Fritz has participated in several events tied to veterans and speaks to students about the Medal of Honor and its significance.
“I try to tell people the important job that the military plays in keeping this country safe,” he said.
And the accolades didn’t end after his military retirement. About 10 years ago, he served as president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. In 2024, the Veterans Assistance Commission in Peoria, Illinois was named in his honor and the airfield at Fort Irwin, California was named Fritz Field.
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32 Comments
It’s remarkable that Fritz was able to overcome his injuries and continue to lead his troops during the firefight, and his actions that day are an inspiration to anyone who has ever served in the military.
His bravery and selflessness are a reminder of the sacrifices that many soldiers have made in service to their country, and his story is an important part of our military history.
The fact that Fritz was able to attend the University of Tampa and pursue an education degree, while also working at a factory to support his family, shows the kind of dedication and responsibility he had even before he enlisted in the Army.
I was struck by the fact that Lt. Col. Harold Fritz was just weeks away from leaving the Vietnam War when he found himself in a bloody firefight that would change his life and earn him the Medal of Honor, it’s a reminder that even in the final stages of a conflict, danger can still be lurking around every corner.
I’m skeptical about the idea that Fritz didn’t have time to think about himself during the firefight, it’s human nature to have some level of self-preservation, but his actions that day suggest that he was able to put the needs of his troops above his own.
While it’s possible that Fritz didn’t have time to think about himself, it’s also possible that he was able to push those thoughts aside and focus on the task at hand, it’s a testament to his training and character.
It’s interesting to note that Fritz was a member of the Future Farmers of America chapter at Badger High School, and I wonder if this experience had any influence on his decision to pursue an education degree at the University of Tampa.
Fritz’s actions during the firefight, including tending to the wounded and directing the assault on the NVA, demonstrate his exceptional leadership skills and commitment to his troops.
His selflessness and willingness to put himself in harm’s way to protect his soldiers are a testament to his character and a shining example of military heroism.
The fact that Fritz was able to reposition his troops and vehicles despite being under heavy fire is a remarkable example of his bravery and quick thinking, and it’s no wonder he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
I’m curious about the long-term effects of Fritz’s experiences during the war on his personal and professional life, and how he was able to adjust to civilian life after such a traumatic event.
It’s striking to think that Fritz’s decision to enlist in the Army, rather than waiting to be drafted, ultimately led him to the Medal of Honor, it’s a reminder that the choices we make can have far-reaching consequences, both positive and negative.
I’m curious about the details of Fritz’s upbringing in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and how his experiences as a hunter, fisherman, and Boy Scout may have prepared him for his military service.
It’s possible that his outdoor experiences taught him valuable survival skills and instilled in him a sense of discipline and responsibility that served him well in the war.
I’m skeptical about the effectiveness of the military’s draft policy during the Vietnam War, and Fritz’s experience being drafted and then choosing to enlist raises questions about the fairness and equity of the system.
Fritz’s experience in the Vietnam War and his subsequent award of the Medal of Honor are a reminder of the importance of recognizing and honoring the sacrifices of our military personnel, both past and present.
The image of Fritz sprinting from vehicle to vehicle, tending to the wounded and directing the assault on the North Vietnamese, is a powerful one, it’s a testament to his bravery and commitment to his troops.
I’m curious to know more about the ambush on January 11, 1969, and how the North Vietnamese soldiers were able to launch such a surprise attack on Fritz’s troops, was there an intelligence failure or was it just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?
It’s possible that the enemy had been tracking Fritz’s unit for some time, gathering intelligence on their movements and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The fact that Lt. Col. Harold Fritz was just weeks away from leaving the Vietnam War unscathed before the firefight that earned him the Medal of Honor is a testament to the unpredictable nature of war, and I wonder what his thoughts were in those final weeks before the ambush.
It’s likely he was anxious to return home to his family, including his high school sweetheart Mary Ellen and their child Kimberly, and start a new life after the war.
The way Fritz jumped into his flaming vehicle to reposition his troops, despite being severely wounded, is a testament to his bravery and selflessness, it’s an act that undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his soldiers.
His actions that day are a prime example of the kind of leadership and courage that earns the Medal of Honor, it’s a truly inspiring story.
The ambush by 270 North Vietnamese soldiers on January 11, 1969, must have been a chaotic and terrifying experience, and it’s remarkable that Fritz was able to maintain his composure and lead his troops despite being severely wounded.
Fritz’s decision to enlist in the Army after being drafted shows his sense of responsibility and duty, which would later be demonstrated in his heroic actions during the firefight.
The details of the firefight, including the number of North Vietnamese soldiers and the fact that Fritz’s vehicle took a direct hit, paint a vivid picture of the intensity and danger of the situation.
It’s worth noting that Fritz’s actions on that day in January 1969 were not just about personal bravery, but also about the importance of leadership and quick decision-making in the heat of battle, it’s a lesson that can be applied to many areas of life.
The quote from Fritz about not having time to think about himself during the firefight and needing to focus on getting his people out of there highlights the intense pressure and responsibility that comes with leadership in combat situations.
It’s interesting to note that Fritz was drafted into the Army in 1966, but instead of waiting to be called, he chose to enlist, this decision would ultimately lead him to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and the fateful day that would earn him the Medal of Honor.
Fritz’s experience in the Boy Scouts and as a member of the Future Farmers of America chapter at Badger High School likely played a role in shaping his leadership skills and ability to stay calm under pressure, it’s a great example of how early life experiences can influence our future.
The fact that Fritz was able to maintain his safety and the safety of his troops despite being out in the open and exposed to enemy fire is a remarkable feat, and it’s a testament to his training and experience as a soldier.
The fact that Fritz was able to reflect on his experiences and share them with the Veterans History Project is a valuable resource for historians and anyone interested in the Vietnam War, it provides a unique perspective on the conflict and the people who fought in it.