Today, on St. Patrick’s Day, it is appropriate to remember at least a few of Irish immigrants who have fought in every major (and most of the minor) engagements of the US military.
Revolutionary War: Commodore John Barry, “Father of the American Navy,” was born in a thatched cottage in County Wexford, Ireland, and rose from humble cabin boy to senior commander of the United States fleet. See The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Commodore John Barry - Aug. 9th, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/960949/posts
Civil War: An estimated 170,000 men born in Ireland joined the Union Army, and another 40,000 joined the Confederate Army. Thomas F. Meagher, born in County Waterford, Ireland, who had been exiled to Tasmania in 1849, fled to the United States in 1852 and joined the Union Army where he was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the famed 2nd "Irish Brigade,” lst Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac. See The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Irish Brigade - Mar. 17th, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/866520/posts
Plains Wars: Myles Walter Keogh born near the village of Leighlinbridge, County Carlow, was the senior captain among the five companies wiped out with Custer at Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876.
World War II: Here are some of the Irish-born men died while serving in the US Army in Europe. These soldiers were initially interred in various US military cemeteries on the Continent, but after the War their remains were returned to Ireland for re-interment at the request of their next-of-kin.
Technician JOSEPH P. CARMODY
PFC PATRICK J. COMER
PVT FRANK J. FINNERTY
PVT PATRICK J. FITZGERALD
PVT MARTIN J. KELLY
PVT JAMES KEVANE
PFC MICHAEL J. LYONS
SGT THOMAS McARDLE
PFC PATRICK J. McDONAGH
1/LT EDWARD J. McKEON
PVT THOMAS MOLONEY
S/SGT THOMAS MORAN
PVT PATRICK J. MORRIS
PFC THOMAS J. MORRISROE
PVT THOMAS O'BRIEN
SGT M. J. O'SHAUGHNESSY
SGT JOHN O'SHEA
SGT EDWARD SMITH
Korea: Among the Irish immigrants to lose their lives while serving in the US forces in Korea were Mark James Brennan of Kiltamagh; Co Mayo, John Corcoran of Millstreet Co Cork and John Canty of Lixnaw Co Kerry.
And in Vietnam, Irish-born military whose names are on the Vietnam Wall include:
BERNARD ANTHONY FREYNE, L/CPL Marine Corps, born BALLAGHADERREEN, ROSCOMMON
PATRICK GALLAGHER, CPL Marine Corps, born BALLYHAUNIS, MAYO
PETER MARY NEE, L/CPL Marine Corps, born GALWAY/CONNERMARA
PATRICK CHRISTOPHER NEVIN, SGT Army, born CLAREMORRIS, MAYO
and a nurse: PAMELA DOROTHY DONOVAN, 2/LT Army Nurse Corps, born THE WIRRAL MERSEYSIDE, UK (DUBLIN)
Source:
http://www.illyria.com/irish/irishwar.htmlThanks StayAt HomeMother for remembering the Irish contribution to our country's history.
The New York Irish units have a long and distinguished history.
Thank you for that excellent post and Happy St. Patrick's Day to you. I am a McGillicuddy. ;-)