Irish Brigade at Gettysburg Part 12: Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick
John Fitzpatrick writes: "The 'Armory', a National Historic Landmark, located at 25th and Lexington Avenues, New York, NY, is the home of 'The Fighting 69th', 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, New York Army National Guard. Near the top of the image, one can see "69th Regiment". Directly over the entrance, it reads "165th INF; N.Y.N.G." their numerical designation during WWI [in the famous Rainbow Division] when the Army decided that each National Guard Unit called to active duty during that War would be designated as 100-something. That designation has been reversed. The Fighting 69th deployed from the Armory in WWI, WWII, Operation Noble Eagle [the immediate defense of the U.S. homeland after 9/11/01 - to include increased security for the U.S. Army Military Academy at West Point], Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Soldiers from the 69th NYANG deployed around the Armory immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center to guard the Armory itself as well as direct traffic for FDNY vehicles responding to the calls from lower Manhattan on that fateful day. They were among the first ground military units responding to defend, then assist with recovery and identity efforts at the site of that attack on our country, our soil and our people, including people from some 90 countries around the world. The Armory, in the days immediately following 9/11, became a principal site for gathering
and grieving for hundreds of people trying to seek, find and learn about family, friends and relatives lost in that tragedy. Every March 17th, as
they have done for more than 150 years, soldiers from the Fighting 69th muster, deploy and march in New York's Saint Patrick's Day Parade as the
Honor Guard for the Grand Marshall of the Parade." This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide John J. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Esq. is host for a series on the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg. John’s interest in Gettysburg began in centennial year of 1963 when he arranged a trip to the Battlefield for the Villanova University Student History Club. That sparked a continuing interest in the American Civil War. Throughout his travels in the Service, work and some vacations he has been to Civil War sites coast to coast from Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California to the home, church and College of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in Brunswick, Maine. He is now entering upon his ninth year of Guiding at Gettysburg.
His professional career began in 1966 as a United States Marine Corps Officer, Tank Platoon Commander then Pilot. He served a combat tour of duty in Vietnam completing 140 missions in the A6 Intruder for which he was awarded 9 Air Medals and Vietnam Service Awards. Captain Fitzpatrick was Honorably Discharged from Active Duty in 1971 whereupon he entered law school. Upon graduation in 1974 he began a 32 year career as Corporate Counsel for Gulf Oil and Chevron Corporation retiring in 2006. He is a Member in good standing before the highest Courts in Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and California.
Contemporaneously with his first legal job, he transferred to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and later the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He served as an Active Reservist Pilot/Forward Air Controller/Squadron and Group Training Officer at the Willow Grove NAS, PA from 1974-1984. He was transferred to HQ USAF at the Pentagon in Legislative Liaison from 1985-1993 and finally as a JAG Officer reporting to the USAF TJAG and General Counsel from 1993-1997 based on his civilian expertise to assist the Air Force with its new Arbitration and Mediation Programs. Colonel Fitzpatrick received 3 Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal and other Awards before transferring to the Retired Reserve in 1997. He now divides his time amongst Guiding at Gettysburg, certain volunteer Veterans’ activities and serving as an Arbitrator in commercial, construction and securities cases.
John Fitzpatrick writes; “I appreciate the earlier related postings of my fellow Guides Rich Bellamy [Colonel Cross in the Wheatfield], the Editor of this Gettysburg Daily, Bobby Housch specifically for his postings of November 8 and 15, 2010 of the Weikert Lane [one of the most likely Avenues of Approach used by the Irish Brigade when it deployed to the Wheatfield in the late afternoon of July 2, 1863] and Dr. Rich Goedkoop’s posting of President Kennedy’s 1963 visit to Gettysburg. I also want to thank Licensed Battlefield Guides Rich Kohr for his posting on the Gettysburg Electric Railway and Ralph Siegel for sharing his expertise on the artillery fight at the Peach Orchard."
“I also appreciate permission to use:
• New York’s Bravest, Painting by Don Troiani, www.historicalimagebank.com;
• Remember Ireland and Fontenoy, Painting by Rick Reeves, permission from Rick Reeves, rickreevesstudio.com;
• Pride of Erin, Painting by Dale Gallon, permission from Ms. Anne Gallon of Gallon Historical Art, Gettysburg, PA, www.Gallon.com;
• The Prince of Wales Flag courtesy of Erik Chipchase at mercenarygraphics.com. His e-mail address is echipchase@mercentary graphics.com.."
In addition to tours at the Gettysburg National Military Park, John also presents President Lincoln and the immortal Gettysburg Address, specifically in the context not only of the battle, but the enormous personal, political and policy pressures affecting the President when he prepared and how he presented it. He has spoken to Civil War Roundtables, Historical Societies, Rotaries and other church/civic/private clubs in PA, MD, CA and is scheduled to present in IL during 2013.
To contact John, please click here to reveal his email address.
In today’s Irish Brigade Post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Emeritus John Fitzpatrick explains how the Fighting 69th is still a unit in the New York Army National Guard, and some of their post-Civil War accomplishments.
To see the previous Irish Brigade posts, click here.
Captain Fitzpatrick on the US Marine flight line, DaNang, Vietnam, March 1970, a US Air Force F-4 Phantom Fighter having just landed in the background.
This map shows the location of the Irish Brigade videos. Video #1-#32 were shown in our previous posts. Videos #30-#34 were taken by the monument to the New York Irish Brigade regiments.This map was created facing north at approximately 3:30 PM on Saturday, February 25, 2012.
John Fitzpatrick writes: “This is another, broader view of the 69th New York Army National Guard Armory, 25th and Lexington Avenues, Manhattan, New York City with the listing of all their Civil War engagements on each front corner of the building. The Armory is headquarters for “The Fighting 69th”, the moniker reportedly given to them by General Robert E. Lee in December, 1862 when he was told that unit was one of the regiments in Major General Burnside’s Army of the Potomac that was about to attack Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Fredericksburg. Soldiers regularly train and deploy from there to this day. Many of their historical artifacts, lineage and honors, including the original Prince of Wales Flag [currently on public display at the New York State Military Museum in Albany] and several of the actual Medals of Honor awarded to soldiers of the Fighting 69th in the American Civil War through World War II, are on display inside. They also have a Wall of Honor memorializing their 19 Killed in Action in Operation Iraqi Freedom [2004-2005] and their three Killed in Action from Operation Enduring Freedom [Afghanistan, 2008-2009]. Their Distinctive Unit Identifier includes a crest with two Irish wolfhounds standing on their hind legs. Beneath their feet is a lower riband which reads; “Gentle When Stroked. Fierce When Provoked.” I was recently privileged to tour the Armory with the unit’s current commander, a most competent, experienced Lieutenant Colonel [of mixed French and American Native Heritage] whose pride in his unit and its full lineage and honors is palpable. The Fighting 69th, part of the State of New York Army National Guard, serves at the pleasure of the Governor. When federalized under Title 10 United States Code, they serve at the pleasure of the Commander-in-Chief. As an American citizen of Irish Heritage, a taxpayer and a veteran, it is abundantly clear to me that this unit and every soldier in it are standing tall, looking good and leaning forward. All New Yorkers and all Americans can, in my judgment, take comfort and pride in the reality that the Fighting 69th will well and faithfully accomplish any mission given to them by their Governor and/or President. Their website is www.sixtyninth.net. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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In Video #33 (Videos #1-#32 were shown in our previous posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick describes some accomplishments of the 69th New York, which is still a unit in the United States' Army. This view was taken facing north at approximately 5:15 PM on Friday, February 3, 2012.
Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick is standing by the monument to the Irish Brigade. Rose's Wheatfield "the Wheatfield" is visible in the left background. The Irish Brigade advanced across the wheatfield towards this part of the Stony Hill on July 2, 1863. This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:15 PM on Friday, February 3, 2012.
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In Video #34 Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick describes how a member of the 69th New York lost his life on 9/11. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:15 PM on Friday, February 3, 2012.
The Prince of Wales flag is on display at the New York State Military Museum in Albany, New York. This image is courtesy of the commanding officer of the Fighting 69th.
This is the “Prince of Wales” flag which clearly and unambiguously refers to October 11, 1860 which is the date when the 18 year old Prince of Wales, son of Queen Victoria, later King Edward VII, visited New York City. The upper red riband on that flag reads, “PRESENTED TO THE 69TH REGIMENT.” The lower red riband reads, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 11TH OCT. 1860.” The 69th New York State Militia was ordered to march in a parade in his honor. Colonel Corcoran refused. He was protesting the inadequate and ineffective response of the British government to the potato famine in Ireland [1845-1850] where approximately one million Irish-British subjects starved to death and approximately another two million emigrated in coffin ships to Australia, Canada and the United States. Corcoran was relieved of command and court-martial proceedings were instituted. The charges were dropped when the 69th New York State Militia responded to President Lincoln’s call to defend Washington City. The painting of the Prince of Wales Flag is courtesy of artist Erik Chipchase at mercenarygraphics.com.His e-mail address is echipchase@mercenary graphics.com. This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:15 PM on Friday, February 3, 2012.
Here is one of the texts that John Fitzpatrick used for his Irish Brigade posts, and that he recommends:
The Great Hunger, Ireland 1845-1849
by Cecil Woodham-Smith.
This image was copied facing north at approximately 8:00 PM on Friday, November 18, 2011.Here is one of the texts that John Fitzpatrick used for his Irish Brigade posts, and that he recommends:
The Famine Ships, The Irish Exodus to America
by Edward Laxton.
This image was copied facing north at approximately 8:00 PM on Friday, November 18, 2011.Here is one of the texts that John Fitzpatrick used for his Irish Brigade posts, and that he recommends:
The Fighting 69th, From Ground Zero to Baghdad
by Sean Michael Flynn.
This image was copied facing north at approximately 8:00 PM on Friday, November 18, 2011. 
