This story was written as a special feature for the Patriot Ledger newspaper to remember William Fisher. A commemorative flyover was performed for this event by Lawrence Fisher.

On memorials, Vietnam veterans and William Fisher.
By Robert McNulty 05/22/2003

Bill Fisher's story is only one among thousands.

In today's culture we see the occasional makeshift 'memorials' that mark
tragic events. Many such memorials dot the landscape where motor vehicle
accidents have unfortunately taken lives. There are the larger memorials
that emerge where horrific events have occurred such as the Worcester
Warehouse Fire and the Rhode Island Nightclub Fire. Then there are the
memorials to events that are seemingly unimaginable in scope such as the
9-11 terrorist attacks. The City Hall block in lower Manhattan is bedecked
with mementoes and tributes by the thousands from all over the world. In all
cases and magnitudes, people from all walks of life are deeply affected.
They are compelled to leave flowers and stuffed animals, photos and
drawings, letters and poems. This is their way of grieving and remembering
and identifying with these events, which seem altogether too common and
unbearably sad. In so many ways, these memorials provide a sense of healing
and closure for all of us to deal with the numbing grief that lingers. The
sorrow pervades our senses that have become dulled by their frequency.


In another time, the lives of Vietnam veterans and their families and
friends were affected in so many ways. Thousands of soldiers lost their
lives half way around the world and there are countless numbers of soldiers
who returned disabled and affected by their time in Vietnam. These were
difficult times and in many ways the Vietnam veteran would fade back into
their routines as quietly as possible under the circumstances. For the vast
majority of veterans and their families and friends, there was no closure.


Bill Fisher's story is only one among thousands.
He wasn't a reluctant soldier, which wasn't uncommon during this volatile
selective service period in our history. He volunteered to join the U.S.
Army like many of his Hyde Park friends and he was initially assigned to
service in Germany. As time passed, Bill wasn't satisfied with his
assignment in Germany and he believed in the American commitment in Vietnam.
After 6 months in Germany he asked to be reassigned to a combat unit in
Vietnam. To accommodate his request, he had agreed to additional service
time and he was then assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi,
Vietnam. He served a year with the 25th armor unit and could have completed
his remaining military time in the United States. However, Bill wanted to
remain with his 'brother soldiers' of the 25th Infantry. He came home for a
brief period to be with his family and he returned to Cu Chi, Vietnam for a
2nd tour of duty.

The Vietnam veteran returned home and received no hero's welcome and there
were no parades. This painful sentiment and its varied incarnations have
become clichéd with the passage of time. Bill Fisher was one of these heroes
but like most of these soldiers, he wasn't looking for gratitude and
expecting tributes and recognition. Yet, he was disappointed with the
derision and lack of respect accorded the returning veterans. Beyond the
mood of the country and the politics of the times, he was just happy to be
home with his family and looking forward to his second chance at life. He
was a hero to his parents and grandparents and brothers and sisters. He
quietly resumed his civilian life while unbeknownst to him; the haunting
vestiges of Vietnam were racking his body. He wasn't home very long. He had
met Mary Cuddy through his sister Beverly and their relationship quickly
blossomed to marriage and then the exciting news of a baby girl on the
horizon. All the while, the affects of the herbicide 'Agent Orange' were
ravaging through Bill's system and he died tragically as a horrified family
helplessly endured this ordeal. His daughter Stacy was born a few months
later. At the time of Bill's passing, his brother Larry was serving with the
3rd Marine Division in Okinawa and he was hurried home in time for the
funeral. Father Kevin McAndrews was the celebrant at the funeral and the
service was painful for him as well. For so many years he provided a summer
getaway for the Hyde Park youth at Camp Mohawk and Bill was among this
fraternity. A sad commentary of the times, Father McAndrews was the
celebrant at other funerals of these ’campers’ who ventured off to war
from the old neighborhood. .


So, who is Bill Fisher? His story is one among thousands.
He was only 25 years old and yet he experienced so much. The oldest of five
children and the pride of his working class family, he made many friends and
acquaintances. He traveled to Europe and Asia and around our great country.
He was a loving newlywed husband to his wife and 'friend' Mary... their
lives full of promise. He was the proud father to a beautiful young daughter
and they would have had wonderful moments together. He was a soldier and a
patriot and he did so on his own terms. He experienced so much in such
little time. It's a wonder where his life would have taken him had he not
been taken from us so soon. And yet, he is with us still in so many ways.
You can see Bill in his parents, his brothers and sisters, his nieces and
nephews and above all in his daughter Stacy. For those who had the good
fortune to know Bill, they catch a glimpse of his spirit, his mannerisms,
his smile, his quiet moments and his 'being there for others'. We sometimes
measure our time on earth through those who are left behind. And the
question is asked about Bill's influence on us all. Upon reflection, we
are all better people for having been blessed to know him. And for us, the
world is a better place for him having been here. He has been a credit to
his family and he will be loved and missed by us all.

Of course, there are memorials that honor the Vietnam soldiers who died.
There is the moving Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC. And, closer to
home, there is the memorial on Morrissey Blvd. in Dorchester. And to the
credit of many communities, they have remembered the fallen Vietnam soldier
in many ways. Meanwhile the soldiers who returned home and quietly tried to
resume their lives, they have done so without fanfare and often are hesitant
to speak of their experiences. In many cases, the Vietnam veteran is a
reluctant veteran. However, an interesting phenomenon has been developing
quietly over time. The Internet has become the landscape of many makeshift
'roadside memorials' for the Vietnam veteran. The Information Super Highway
is alive with tributes to the veterans who wandered off into anonymity.
These quiet soldiers are being remembered in the most publicly available
environment. Of course, these tributes are not obvious to the casual
passersby and accidental observers. But they are there nonetheless. For the
curious among us, almost any military unit can be searched and there will be
vast amounts of information. A great number of veterans have created
websites as well with their own stories and experiences and photographs. For
so many of these soldiers, the Internet has provided a cathartic process to
deal with their own healing and closure.


And then there are the occasional special tributes. On Saturday, June 7th,
Larry Fisher of Stoughton will climb into the cockpit of his vintage Vietnam
era L19 Bird Dog military reconnaissance plane. He will then fly over St
Mary's Cemetery in Canton, MA where his brother Bill Fisher was interred.
Himself a Vietnam veteran and Sergeant with the Boston Police Department,
Larry has wanted to organize such a tribute for many years. The renewed
spirit of patriotism has provided the impetus and spark for this project to
finally come to fruition. A gravesite service will commence at 9:30 AM and
it will culminate with the ceremonial flyover at 10:00 AM. Younger brother
Jack Fisher of Abington will preside over the gravesite ceremonies attended
by Bill's widow Mary Fisher (Cuddy) of Braintree and his daughter Stacy
Kenney (Fisher) of Plymouth. Also among the group will be Bill's proud
parents Ethel and Wilbur (WW II veteran) Fisher of Braintree and his sisters
Beverly McNulty (Fisher) of Marshfield and Joanne Marino (Fisher) of
Meredith, NH. In addition, many nephews and nieces and other relatives and
friends will be in attendance. The gravesite service will include prayers of
remembrance and readings. A color guard from the Holbrook VFW will
complement the service and there will be bagpipe musical offerings.
.
So, if you are in the Canton area on the morning of June 7th, and you hear
the lonely drone of a single engine aircraft, look up and take notice; take
a moment and perhaps salute or tip your cap. Larry Fisher will tip a wing to
his brother and family below and you can bet he will be saluting all those
other Vietnam veterans who deserve the recognition that is so well deserved
and so long overdue.