• THE VIETNAM CENTER AND ARCHIVE
  • Texas Tech University

 Finding Aid: Ruth Coder Fitzgerald Collection Item Number: 12480000000

Individual Collection
Location: D100.6A, D100.7A, Photograph Collection, Newsletter Collection, Periodical Collection, Cold Storage Vault, Museum Objects


Scope & Content:

  • Approximately two linear feet of audio tapes, video tapes, DVDs, newsletters and periodicals, photographs, stickers, internet printouts, newspaper clippings and articles, correspondence, administrative documents, transcripts, statements for H.R. 3293, and other documents and reports detail the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, a grassroots project dedicated to placing a commemorative plaque at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial honoring veterans who died after the war as a result of their service, including those who developed cancer due to Agent Orange exposure, suicide due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and various other maladies. The correspondence section is broken up into the following sections: Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc., Congressional (1955-1999), Commission of Fine Arts (1995-1996), Fallen Warriors Foundation, and correspondence with Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. and actor Gary Sinise. Most materials are in good condition.

Biographical Note:

  • Ruth Coder Fitzgerald established the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc. in 1995 to lobby for a plaque to be placed at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in honor of Veterans whose post-war deaths resulted from their tours of duty in Vietnam. Her brother, John Keath Coder, died on July 17, 1992 from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as a result of exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. He served with the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1970. Coder was stationed at Da Nang, South Vietnam from April 1969 to April 1970 and was a helicopter pilot with the 37th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron.

Access Level:

  • Unrestricted

Collection Inventory:

LocationBoxFolderContents
D100.6A11
The American Battle Monuments Commission
2
Beginning Efforts of the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial
3
Brochures and Pamphlets
4
Congressional Bills H.R. 3293 and S. 1921
5
Correspondence - General
6
Correspondence - Congressman Herbert Bateman (R-Va.)
7
Correspondence - Cards and Handwritten Letters
8
Correspondence - Commission of Fine Arts, 1995-1999
9
Correspondence - Congressional, 1995-1999
10
Correspondence - E-Mails to Ruth Coder Fitzgerald, 1995-1999
11
Correspondence - E-Mail: Jan Scruggs Is Attacking His Fellow Veterans Again, 1997
12
Correspondence - E-Mails to Ruth Coder Fitzgerald, 2000
13
Correspondence - E-Mails to Ruth Coder Fitzgerald, 2001-2005 and undated
14
Correspondence - Fallen Warriors Foundation
15
Correspondence - National Capital Planning Commission, 1995-1996
16
Correspondence - Actor Gary Sinise, 1996
17
Correspondence - Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1999
18
Correspondence - Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.
19
Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial - In Memory Ceremony
20
Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial - In Memory Ceremony
21
H.R. 3293 Statements and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Syndrome (PTSD) Article
22
H.R. 3293 - House of Representatives
23
H.R. 3293 - National Parks and Public Lands
24
Internet Printouts
25
National Congress of American Indians
26
National Native American Veterans Pow Wow, November 7-8, 1998
27
Newsletters and updates
28
Original Newspaper Articles
29
Photocopied Articles
30
Press Releases
31
United States Department of the Interior Material
32
United States Department of the Interior - Public Meeting of the National Capital Memorial Commission, September 5, 2000
33
United States Senate Material
34
Vietnam Memorial Commemorative Plaque - Design Proposal Reports, 2001-2002
35
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commemorative Plaque - Site Selection Study, 2001
36
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
37
The Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc. Bylaws
38
The Vietnam War In Memory Memorial Endorsements
39
Vietnam Women's Memorial Project, Inc.
40
VVA on Agent Orange, 1990
41
Assorted Documents
42
Preview Edition: The U.S. Congress Handbook (106th Congress)
43
"In Memory Memorial Plaque" unveiling and dedication programs
44
In Memory Memorial, Inc. stationary
45
copy of contract between Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and Dewberry and Davis
D100.7A21
Newspaper Articles, 1993-2005

Separated Materials:

Photographs:Ten photographs of the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial and of veterans who have passed away as a result of their tours of duty in Vietnam, VA041489-VA041493.
 Gary D. Berry (dob 30 April 1949, dod 4 December 1997), U.S. Army, passed away from cancer related to Agent Orange exposure.
 SFC Jimmy Rogers Cauley.
 2 photos SP5 John Hogan, U.S. Army (dob 3 February 1950 dod 18 November 2003) passed away from cancer resulting from exposure to Agent Orange.
 Vietnam in Memory Memorial.
Museum Objects:POW/MIA stickers.
 1248museum1593: two Tet '68 luggage tags.
 1248museum1594: two Tet '68 key chains.
 1248museum1595: Tet '68 Hampton, VA commemorative medallion.
 1248museum1596: God Bless Those in Service to America pin.
 1248museum1597: Telephone used by Fitzgerald to lobby members of Congress in support of the "In Memory Memorial" plaque.
Moving Images:Videotapes - Friends of Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day, November 11, 1994 and Memorial Day, May 29, 1995 at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Friends of Vietnam Veterans Memorial, In Memory Ceremony, Veterans Day, November 11, 1995 at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Friends of Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day 1997 at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
 1248VI1941: C-Span coverage of HR-3293 the bill to place a plaque near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to commemorate those who served and later died from their service.
 1248VI1942: In Memory Memorial Plaque dedication (10 November 2004).
 1248VI1943: In Memory Memorial Plaque unveiling.
 1248VI2340 - CRRL Presents The Vietnam War: In Memory Memorials (DVD).
Audio:CD - "The Wall" written by Allan Licht and Bobby Dorman.
 Audiotapes - POW/MIA Freedom Radio, March 28, 1999.
November 11, 2001.
May 26, 2002.
 Audiotape - "Forgotten Son" by Johnny Rogers.
 1248AU1616: CD containing song "Spirit of the Free" written and produced by Michael Chain.
Newsletters:America's Heroes: Oklahoma's #1 Veterans Newspaper, Vol. 2 Issue 11, November 1997.
 Free Armed Forces News, Vol. 2 No. 6, August 1997.
 Incoming: Monthly Newsletter of VVA Chapter 193, Leroy, New York, May 1997.
 The Hotline: The Official Publication of the Marine Air Traffic Control Association, Vol. 9 No. 5, September 2000.
 National Guard News, Vol. XII No. 4, 1999.
 Star Spangled News: Vietna, veterans of America, Piedmont Area Chapter Number 752, Vol. 47, June 2000.
 Virginia Vietnam Veteran, Vol. 9 No. 1.
Periodicals:Mary Washington College Today, Vol. 24 No. 1, Fall 1999.
 Mizzou: The Magazine of the MU Alumni Association, Vol. 88 No. 1, Fall 1999.
 The VVA Veteran, April/May 1998 - Janaury/February 2003, July/August 2005.

Digitized Materials

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