Medal of Honor recipient: Put younger veterans in leadership roles within the Legion

A Medal of Honor recipient who also is a Legionnaire had a bit of advice for his organization when it comes to looking at its future – and bringing in and then utilizing younger veterans.

Harold Fritz, a Paid-Up-For Life member of American Legion Post 24 in Lake Geneva, Wis., addressed attendees during the Legion’s national convention Aug. 29 in Charlotte, N.C. He shared what the Congressional Medal of Honor Society is doing to move younger recipients through the ranks of the society.

“Sixteen younger recipients are getting into the leadership roles,” he said. “We’re trying to infuse younger guys into the leadership roles. And that’s what the Legion is doing. The Legion is working to try to get the younger people successfully … into the leadership roles.”

But that has to be done with consideration for the generations that came before. “You don’t want to throw the old guys under the bus,” Fritz said. “You want to include them in your efforts because that’s part of the positive growth that you’ll experience.

“Years ago, younger veterans said, ‘If I join The American Legion … all they send me is a monthly magazine.’ But what you see today are the veterans organizations, including The American Legion, that are embracing communities. Those are your posts and your districts that are the most successful.”

Fritz urged American Legion posts to continue to follow that direction. “Go and get these younger veterans involved with something that … he or she is looking for,” he said. “It’s challenging, but we can’t stop. We’ve got to keep pushing … bringing young (veterans) on board, putting them in some leadership roles and showing them our organization’s a viable, living, ever-changing organization that is there for the veteran.”

Fritz earned the Medal of Honor as a platoon leader in Binh Long Province, South Vietnam.  On Jan. 11, 1969, his seven-vehicle armored column came under intense crossfire from an enemy ambush. After being seriously wounded, he leaped to the top of his burning vehicle and directed the positions of his men and their vehicles.  Vastly outnumbered by the enemy, he assisted the wounded, directed fire, distributed ammunition and encouraged his men.

Under fierce assault, he manned a machine gun and repelled his attackers. Moments later, a second enemy assault threatened his unit. Armed only with a pistol and bayonet, Fritz led a small group of his men on a daring charge, which routed the enemy and inflicted heavy casualties. Their actions forced the enemy to withdraw.

But Fritz wants no part of acclaim, as he told the audience. “I represent the 65 living recipients of the Medal of Honor,” he said. “And if any of my brothers were here, they would tell you the following: We, as Medal of Honor recipients, do not wish to have the light shined upon us for our valor. But, to reflect in our blue ribbons and medals the valor, the sacrifice and the dedication of all those that have served and are serving in the armed forces of the United States.”