LYNN — Richard Fecteau, a highly decorated former CIA officer who spent nearly two decades in a Chinese prison, is set to receive renewed recognition in his hometown for his extraordinary service and sacrifice.
Local officials, veterans, law enforcement officers, and business leaders are working to erect a larger, more prominent monument as part of a rededication of Richard Fecteau Park at Flax Pond, currently the site of a small, stone marker, ensuring his legacy remains visible in the city he calls home.
Fecteau, 98, a Lynn Classical graduate, entered the CIA soon after his graduation from Boston University. He was captured in 1952 when his C-47 transport plane was shot down in Manchuria by Communist Chinese forces.
Fecteau and fellow CIA paramilitary officer John Downey, who also survived, were on their first mission, a daring attempt during the Korean War to rescue a CIA agent who, unbeknownst to the agency, had set a trap after being compromised by the Chinese. The pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash.
Fecteau, placed in leg irons and deprived of sleep, underwent months of brutal psychological interrogation and spent 19 years in a Chinese prison, nearly half in solitary confinement. After his release in 1971, the former BU football player returned to his alma mater as assistant athletic director, retiring in 1989.
In 2013, Fecteau and Downey received the CIA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Intelligence Cross for “extraordinary heroism,” awarded to only a handful of agents, most posthumously. In presenting the award, former CIA Director John Brennan said, “…their ordeal remains among the most compelling accounts of courage, resolve, and endurance in the history of our agency.”
Fecteau is one of the CIA’s most highly decorated officers, having also received the Intelligence Medal of Merit, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, and the Director’s Medal. His unwavering resilience during his 19 years as a prisoner of war is a testament to his extraordinary courage and endurance.
In recent years, however, the original monument recognizing Fecteau’s sacrifices has become difficult to locate. Community leaders — including former Lynn Police Department officer and business owner Albert DiVirgilio, former Lynn PD officer and fellow Marine Charlie Griffin, and Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Oswald, also a fellow Marine,— have spearheaded efforts to rectify this.
DiVirgilio recalled how the effort began when he was contacted by Fecteau’s niece in Maine, who had been caring for him.
“They had been trying to get Richard to move up for a couple of years to give him better care because he lived alone, and he finally coalesced unwillingly but was willing to sell the house,” DiVirgilio explained.
While helping Fecteau’s niece sell his home, DiVirgilio learned more about the forgotten state of his existing memorial. “She said it makes him sad sometimes—he has a park that was memorialized to him, but he doesn’t know where it is anymore. There was a stone he used to visit, but he thinks it might have been thrown in the water.”
Al later recalled saying to his wife and business partner, Katie DiVirgilio, “I didn’t say a lot, we kind of left it at that. But when we were leaving, I said to Katie, ‘When this is over and we sell this, let’s take the proceeds from this and figure out how to do something with that dedication, that memorial,’ and she agreed.”
After the sale of Fecteau’s home, DiVirgilio reached out to Griffin and other community members to locate the stone. “Charlie found it, took a picture, and sent it to me,” he said. “Then these guys took the idea and just blew it up from there, turning it into what it is now.”
“This is similar to what happened with veteran, LCpl. Bradley J. Campus,” said Griffin. “He originally only had a wooden sign at his dedication, and that just wasn’t right. When we saw that Fecteau’s recognition was so small and nearly forgotten, we knew we had to do something.”
The team, along with support from local business, Dandreo Brothers Construction, has worked to design a new granite monument, complete with engraved details of Fecteau’s service, an informational display, and flagpoles for both the American and CIA flags.
“We want people to walk up, see it, and truly understand what he went through,” said Griffin. “He spent nearly 20 years in a Chinese POW camp, yet he came out without bitterness, just a humble man who said he was doing his job. That deserves recognition.”
The new monument, expected to be completed by the end of April, will be moved to a more visible location near the intersection by the lake, making it easier for residents and visitors to learn about Fecteau’s legacy. The dedication ceremony is scheduled for April 30 at 1 p.m., with a rain date set for May 2.
“That’s the historical part about it,” said Oswald. “The Fecteau-Leary Jr./Sr. High School is named after him, but nobody really knows who Fecteau is until they look into it. And then, of course, you’ve got a school, and you’ve got a rock, and people just walk by. This guy spent 19 years in a Chinese POW camp, and he comes out and he’s like normal. He goes and works at BU as an assistant athletic director for years and years. So he definitely deserves some recognition — it’s about keeping his memory alive in the city of Lynn.”
The team is optimistic that this initiative will spark interest in further veteran recognition projects. For now, their focus remains on ensuring that Fecteau’s story is cemented in Lynn’s history — both figuratively and literally — through this enduring tribute.
In addition to private contributions, the initiative is also receiving support from local officials, including state Sen. Brendan Crighton and city representatives who are working to improve the surrounding park area. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with funding for the monument and site enhancements, with donations being collected.
For those looking to contribute or learn more, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/richard-fecteau-memorial-dedication
