Fitzgerald Valcarlton Irish

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Fitzgerald Valcarlton Irish was born June 4,1946 on the island of Antigua in the West Indies.

As a young boy he enjoyed running around on the beach, floating and daydreaming on the ocean for endless hours on an old inner tube. He was an avid young reader and his love of books spanned a lifetime..

He belonged to the Boy Scouts and took great pride in the medals he earned as a youth. His favorite holiday while living in his small hometown was Christmas, and he held fond memories of singing Christmas carols with his group of friends.

During his late teens he moved to St. Croix, Virgin Islands. In 1970 he joined the United States Army where he first served as a Military Police Officer and later pursued food service, which was his passion. During his Army career he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

He served in Vietnam where he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Overseas Service bars and ribbons.

His time in the Army included overseas tours to Korea and Panama, as well as several stops in the United States in Massachusetts, Louisiana, and Hawaii. Upon retirement, Fitzgerald continued his life of service to the military troops and in 1998 his team of Army soldiers won the Philip A. Conelly Award for excellence in Army Food Service.

Over his life, he went by “Val”, “Gerry”, “Uncle Gerry” and most of all, “Dad”. He was an affable and easy-going soul, who made friends wherever he went.

Fitzgerald Irish was married for over 40 years to D. Mariela Butcher. He is survived by Deborah Irish and Lorelle Irish from a first marriage in St. Croix; Gerald Irish and Carla Davis both residing in Virginia; eleven grandchildren: Oniqua Blyden, Michael Davis Jr., Tyrrell Davis, Mathieu Davis, Simone Davis, A’jani Wilkinson, Awquen Irish, A’Jamu Irish, Jasmine Irish, Maxine Irish, and Serena Irish; and two great-grandchildren: Awquen Irish Jr. and Legend Irish.