OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma National Guard is mourning the loss of Staff Sgt. Steven FitzGerald, of Blanchard, who died Jan. 20 in an Air Evac helicopter crash in Weatherford.
Killed in the crash were FitzGerald, a paramedic; pilot Russell Haslam and Flight Nurse Adam Tebben.
FitzGerald was a member of the Oklahoma National Guard.
“Steven dedicated his life to serving others both as combat veteran in the Oklahoma Army National Guard and as an EMSA paramedic in his civilian career,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, our fellow Guardsmen, and first responders during this difficult time.”
FitzGerald joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in August 1995 as a multiple launch rocket systems specialist with 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment.
In 2006, he retrained as a healthcare specialist serving with 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, and most recently with Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment (MEDEVAC).
FitzGerald deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008, to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011, to Ukraine in 2017 and again to the Middle East in 2022.
A public visitation will be held Jan. 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Eisenhour Funeral Home, located at 2500 N. Council Ave, Blanchard, Oklahoma 73010.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Blanchard First Baptist Church, located at 919 Northeast 10th St, Blanchard, Oklahoma 73010, followed by interment at the Blanchard Cemetery located at the southeast corner of N. Council Ave and N.E. 25th St in Blanchard.
