Medal of Honor

Ewing Patriotic Committee

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--Medal of Honor Recipient Fred Zabitosky

On the 19th of February 1968, at the height of the TET Offensive during the Vietnam War, Ewing's own Master Sergeant Fred Zabitosky earned his nation's highest award for valor, the only person from Ewing to ever be so honored.

Fred William Zabitosky (October 27, 1942 – January 18, 1996)

Service Years 1959 - 1981
Retired as Master Sergeant

Medal Of Honor

Place and Date: Republic of Vietnam, 19 February 1968
Unit: U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Rank: Awarded Medal of Honor Sergeant First Class (Rank at time of action: Staff Sergeant)

Citation

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. SFC Zabitosky, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as an assistant team leader of a 9-man Special Forces long-range reconnaissance patrol. SFC Zabitosky's patrol was operating deep within enemy-controlled territory when they were attacked by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army unit. SFC Zabitosky rallied his team members, deployed them into defensive positions, and, exposing himself to concentrated enemy automatic weapons fire, directed their return fire. Realizing the gravity of the situation, SFC Zabitosky ordered his patrol to move to a landing zone for helicopter extraction while he covered their withdrawal with rifle fire and grenades. Rejoining the patrol under increasing enemy pressure, he positioned each man in a tight perimeter defense and continually moved from man to man, encouraging them and controlling their defensive fire. Mainly due to his example, the outnumbered patrol maintained its precarious position until the arrival of tactical air support and a helicopter extraction team. As the rescue helicopters arrived, the determined North Vietnamese pressed their attack. SFC Zabitosky repeatedly exposed himself to their fire to adjust suppressive helicopter gunship fire around the landing zone. After boarding 1 of the rescue helicopters, he positioned himself in the door delivering fire on the enemy as the ship took off. The helicopter was engulfed in a hail of bullets and SFC Zabitosky was thrown from the craft as it spun out of control and crashed. Recovering consciousness, he ignored his extremely painful injuries and moved to the flaming wreckage. Heedless of the danger of exploding ordnance and fuel, he pulled the severely wounded pilot from the searing blaze and made repeated attempts to rescue his patrol members but was driven back by the intense heat. Despite his serious burns and crushed ribs, he carried and dragged the unconscious pilot through a curtain of enemy fire to within 10 feet of a hovering rescue helicopter before collapsing."

SFC Zabitosky's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army." Source: http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-m-z.html#ZABITOSKY

Dedication Ceremony Honoring MSG Zabitosky

For decades, a framed photograph of MSG Zabitosky, along with a photograph of his Army Medal of Honor, was installed in the vestibule of the Township Municipal Building. Mayor Bert Steinmann and township officials have long felt that more needed to be done to show the respect and gratitude owed to MSG Zabitosky and to all the brave men and women of Ewing who have selflessly put their futures on hold, some sacrificing their future entirely, to answer their country's call.

Every resident of Ewing Township should know the name and the story of MSG Zabitosky, and through him all of Ewing's veterans. Sadly, MSG Zabitosky passed away in January of 1996, at the age of 53. October 27, 2017, a Friday, would have been his 75th birthday and township officials determined to ensure that his service, his valor, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.

A dedication ceremony for MSG Zabitosky's new memorial display was held on Saturday, October 28, 2017 with members of the public and armed forces invited. Videos of the event are available on Youtube.

President Richard M Nixon awards Medal of Honor to Sergeant Zabitosky at White House

Biography

Fred William Zabitosky was born on October 27th, 1942, to Cora and Fred Theodore Zabitosky. The Zabitoskys lived on Perry Street in Trenton at the time of Fred's birth. Fred senior was a barber, who operated a barber shop on Broad Street in Trenton.

The Zabitosky family moved to Ewing township sometime around 1955, renting a home at 25 Oak Lane, off of Pennington Road. At this time, Fred senior operated a barber shop located on the grounds of 520 Ewingville Road. The building still stands, adjacent to the driveway which connects the nearby 7-11 side lot to the Robbins Pharmacy parking lot.

High School

Having lived a turbulent and sometimes troubled life to this point, Fred dropped out of Ewing High School, class of 1960, in the summer after his junior year, 1959 and joined the US Army. It was around this time that Fred's parents and four siblings moved again, to Ortley Beach, NJ (just north of Seaside Heights).

Military Life

Fred found a home, and embraced a lifestyle which seemed made for him, in the military. He excelled in the most difficult of regimens and became a senior enlisted man in the fledgling US Army Special Forces - the vaunted Green Berets. He completed thirty years of honorable service, including three tours of duty in Vietnam (where he earned his nation's highest award for valor), and is remembered today as a legend within the Special Forces community. The main thoroughfare in the Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, home of the Green Berets, is named after him - Zabitosky Street. Once his active-duty military career ended, Zabitosky continued to serve his military brethren by working for the Veteran's Administration at Fort Bragg and by being active in the efforts to recover our MIA/POWs.

Sadly, Fred Zabitosky passed away from cancer at the age of 53, on January 8th, 1996, most likely the result of exposure to Agent Orange during his time in the jungles of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Zabitosky was predeceased by his son Edward and his wife, Carrie Mae, passed away in 2007. He is buried in Lumbee Memorial Gardens, Lumberton, Robeson County, North Carolina, USA.[1]

Thank God for men like Sergeant Zabitosky.

[1] Find A Grave – see https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7865060

Additional Resources

For more information about SFC Zabitosky see the following: