Posted on 03/17/2005 7:53:19 AM PST by Mr. Silverback
I thought it would be a great St. Patrick's day activity to highlight the many Irish folks who have been American heroes. I'll start with a guy from my state, Butch O'Hare. Don't let the St. :ouis thing fool you, Butch was a Chicago boy, that's why they named the airport after him. I got the text of this citation from The Army's Medal of Honor Site so if you folks want to go over there and check for more Irish heroes, let's honor them today.
O'HARE, EDWARD HENRY
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy.
Born: 13 March 1914, St. Louis, Mo.
Entered service at: St. Louis, Mo.
Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 gold star.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in aerial combat, at grave risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, as section leader and pilot of Fighting Squadron 3 on 20 February 1942. Having lost the assistance of his teammates, Lt. O'Hare interposed his plane between his ship and an advancing enemy formation of 9 attacking twin-engine heavy bombers. Without hesitation, alone and unaided, he repeatedly attacked this enemy formation, at close range in the face of intense combined machinegun and cannon fire. Despite this concentrated opposition, Lt. O'Hare, by his gallant and courageous action, his extremely skillful marksmanship in making the most of every shot of his limited amount of ammunition, shot down 5 enemy bombers and severely damaged a sixth before they reached the bomb release point. As a result of his gallant action--one of the most daring, if not the most daring, single action in the history of combat aviation--he undoubtedly saved his carrier from serious damage.
McALLISTER, SAMUEL
Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 23 January 1869, Belfast, Ireland. Accredited to: California. G.O. No.: 84, 22 March 1902. Citation: In action against the enemy at Tientsin, China, 20 June 1900. Crossing the river in a small boat while under heavy enemy fire, McAllister assisted in destroying buildings occupied by the enemy.
CAHEY, THOMAS
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 13 April 1870, Bellfast, Ireland. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 85, 22 March 1902. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Petrel for heroism and gallantry, fearlessly exposing his own life to danger in saving others on the occasion of the flre on board that vessel, 31 March 1901.
McGUlRE, FRED HENRY
Rank and organization: Hospital Apprentice, U.S. Navy. Born: 7 November 1890, Gordonville, Mo. Entered service at: Gordonville, Mo. G.O. No.: 138, 13 December 1911. Citation: While attached to the U.S.S. Pampang, McGuire was one of a shore party moving in to capture Mundang, on the island of Basilan, Philippine Islands, on the morning of 24 September 1911. Ordered to take station within 100 yards of a group of nipa huts close to the trail, McGuire advanced and stood guard as the leader and his scout party first searched the surrounding deep grasses, then moved into the open area before the huts. Instantly enemy Moros opened point-blank fire on the exposed men and approximately 20 Moros charged the small group from inside the huts and from other concealed positions. McGuire, responding to the calls for help, was one of the first on the scene. After emptying his rifle into the attackers, he closed in with rifle, using it as a club to wage fierce battle until his comrades arrived on the field, when he rallied to the aid of his dying leader and other wounded. Although himself wounded, McGuire ministered tirelessly and efficiently to those who had been struck down, thereby saving the lives of 2 who otherwise might have succumbed to enemy-inflicted wounds.
True, we shouldn't forget the Confederates, either.
BUCHANAN, ALLEN
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy. Born: 22 December 1876, Evansville, Ind. Accredited to: Indiana. G.O. No.: 177, 4 December 1915. Other Navy award: Navy Cross. Citation: For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. In command of the 1st Seaman Regiment, Lt. Cmdr. Buchanan was in both days' fighting and almost continually under fire from soon after landing, about noon of the 21st, until we were in possession of the city, about noon of the 22d. His duties required him to be at points of great danger in directing his officers and men, and he exhibited conspicuous courage, coolness, and skill in his conduct of the fighting. Upon his courage and skill depended, in great measure, success or Failure. His responsibilities were great, and he met them in a manner worthy of commendation.
Stand by...I have some notes for you about that O'Hare email...
THOMPSON, JOSEPH H.
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, 110th Infantry, 28th Division. Place and date: Near Apremont, France, 1 October 1918. Entered service at: Beaver Falls, Pa. Born: 26 September 1871, Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland. G.O. No.: 21, W.D., 1925. Citation: Counterattacked by 2 regiments of the enemy, Maj. Thompson encouraged his battalion in the front line of constantly braving the hazardous fire of machineguns and artillery. His courage was mainly responsible for the heavy repulse of the enemy. Later in the action, when the advance of his assaulting companies was held up by fire from a hostile machinegun nest and all but 1 of the 6 assaulting tanks were disabled, Maj. Thompson, with great gallantry and coolness, rushed forward on foot 3 separate times in advance of the assaulting line, under heavy machinegun and antitank-gun fire, and led the 1 remaining tank to within a few yards of the enemy machinegun nest, which succeeded in reducing it, thereby making it possible for the infantry to advance.
Here's a note I sent a friend when he asked me whether the "Two Stories" email was true:
Snopes rates this as an item of indeterminate origin or unclassifiable veracity." Their comments on it are at http://www.snopes.com/glurge/ohare.htm and it's an interesting read. The basic facts (Eddie was a mob lawyer, he did turn state's evidence, he was rubbed out) are true, but Eddie's motivations probably were related to the Capone ship going down, not to any pangs of guilt. It is even possible that Butch got his slot at the Naval Academy as part of his father's testimony deal. If so, it may be both the least and the most undeserved Academy commission ever!
The basic facts of his actions against the bomber formation are accurate, but the CMH citation he got for it doesn't mention that his fuel was low. Also, here's a paragraph from the Naval Historical Center's history of the Lexington:
"Lexington patrolled to block enemy raids In the Oahu-Johnston-Palmyra triangle until 11 January 1942, when she sailed from Pearl Harbor as flagship for Vice Adm. Wilson Brown commanding TF 11. On 16 February, the force headed for an attack on Rabaul, New Britain, scheduled for 21 February. While approaching the day previous, Lexington was attacked by two waves of enemy aircraft, nine planes to a wave. The carrier's own combat air patrol and antiaircraft fire splashed 17 of the attackers. During a single sortie Lt. E. H (Butch) O'Hare won the Medal of Honor by downing five planes."
Looks like O'Hare was part of the CAP over Lexington and there wasn't even an outgoing strike, much less a strike he had to leave for lack of gas. In February of '42 I believe we had 4 carriers in the Pacific (Lexington, Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown) to the 16 or so the Japanese were operating, so a strong fighter cover would be essential at all times. Looks like the stuff where he was trying to clip the wings on the bombers is false as well.
Bottom line? Butch's dad was scum, Butch was a hero. It wasn't Eddie being cut down with a machine gun that redeemed the family name, it was Butch's heroism and death. He was lost in a night action against enemy torpedo bombers in November of '43 and was never found.
His officail bio at the O'Hare airport site is at http://www.ohare.com/ohare/about/about_butch.shtm
His CMH citation from the 20 February '42 action is at http://www.lonesailor.org/Navyvoice_display.php?ID=137822&page=1&pages=1&lastname=O%27HARE&firstname=EDWARD&firstbranch=USN&rankrate=LCDR&middlename=HENRY+%27BUTCH%27&suffix=&image1=a137822&returnto=&citation=yes
McDONALD, JAMES HARPER
Rank and organization: Chief Metalsmith, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Area at sea of sinking of the U.S.S. Squalus, 23 May 1939. Entered service at: Washington, D.C. Born: 15 July 1900, Scotland. Citation: For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as a master diver throughout the rescue and salvage operations following the sinking of the U.S.S. Squalus on 23 May 1939. His leadership, masterly skill, general efficiency, and untiring devotion to duty in directing diving operations, and in making important and difficult dives under the most hazardous conditions, characterize conduct far above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.
Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?
- Dan Daly to his men, Belleau Wood, France, June 4, 1918
Daniel "Dan" Daly (1873-1937), Legendary US Marine
One of only two US Marines in history to win the Congressional Medal of Honor twice, Sergeant Major Daniel J. Daly, USMC, is best remembered today for uttering one of the most famous battle cries of all time, exhorting his outgunned and outflanked men to charge a German machine gun nest during the Battle of Belleau Wood by demanding to know if they wanted to live forever.
Daly's record was already astonishing enough to secure his immortality in Marine lore even before his famous 1918 charge. Born on November 11, 1873 at Glen Cove, Long Island, survived a rough and tumble childhood on the streets of New York City, before enlisting in the Marine Corps on January 10, 1899. His professed reason for joining was to fight in the Spanish-American War, and although he missed out on that skirmish by several months, Daly was destined to take part in many future conflicts all across the globe.
Peking
Initially deployed with the Asiatic Fleet, Daly soon found himself shipped to China in May of 1900 as part of a small contingent of marines charged with protecting the besieged Peking legations during the Boxer Rebellion. By mid-August, the legation's defenders had been driven back to desperate last-stand defensive positions centering around the old city wall. Along with a certain Captain N.H. Hall, Daly undertook to defend a solid position on top of the wall between the Ch'ien Men and Hata Men gates, armed only with a rifle and a bayonet. On August 14, Hall left the position to get reinforcements, leaving Daly alone on the wall. That night, Daly was subject to constant sniper fire, and single-handedly held off several charges by the enemy until Hall returned with reinforcements the next morning. For this action, Daly was awarded his first Medal of Honor.
Haiti
After seeing action at Vera Cruz during the Mexican-American conflict of 1914, Daly's next fought with great distinction during the first US occupation of Haiti in 1915. On October 24, Daly was part of a patrol of 35 Marines that was ambushed by about 400 of the bandit Cacos while making its way through a deep ravine. With great effort, the marines fought their way to higher ground and a more defensible position, but while crossing a river under heavy fire, the patrol was forced to abandon several horses, including the one carrying its only machine gun. During the night the patrol was subjected to continuous fire, and the patrol commander called for the machine gun. Daly promptly volunteered to return to the river and retrieve the weapon. Making his way back past enemy positions, Daly located the dead horse, cut the gun away, strapped it to his back, and returned to the patrol's position. The next morning the patrol broke free in a daring assault on the Caco positions, and Daly earned a second Medal of Honor for his invaluable contribution.
France
In November of 1917, Daly, by then 44 years old, was shipped off to France to fight in World War I as a first gunnery sergeant in the 73rd Machine Gun Company. His many actions in France would earn him several medals. On one occasion he single-handedly charged and captured a German machine gun position using only a .45 pistol and some hand grenades. Another time, he single-handedly captured 13 German soldiers in the course of a single day's fighting. It was in June of 1918 that Daly's company was pinned down by German machine guns near the town of Lucy le Bocage on the outskirts of Belleau Wood. Outnumbered and outgunned and facing the prospect of gradual attrition and eventual annihilation if they held their position, Daly ordered a frontal assault on the enemy guns. Leaping to the fore, Daly shouted to his men, "Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?" Daily would later clean up the language a bit for the history books, telling the marine historian that what he really yelled that day was, "For Christ's sake, men, come on! Do you want to live forever?" Either way, the men were so inspired that they not only overran the German position but captured the entire town of Lucy le Bocage, and ever after Daly's daring challenge has been upheld as the epitome of Marine spirit and bravado.
Living Forever
Despite the measure of fame his exploits earned him, Daly was never a glory hound and shunned publicity he viewed as undeserved. In his own words, the "hatful of medals" he had received were "a lot of foolishness." Similarly, he refused officer's commission on several occasions on the grounds that he would rather be "an outstanding sergeant than just another officer." Nevertheless, Daly was proud to have been a Marine. Having never married, and declared in 1919 that, "I can't see how a single man could spend his time to better advantage than in the Marines."
Following World War I, Daly was put on the reserve list, and took a job as a bank guard on Wall Street, a position he held until his death on April 28, 1937. All told he had served on seven different Navy ships, and in addition to combat in China, Mexico, Haiti and France, had served in Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and eight United States postings. Major General John A. Lejeune, at one time the Commandant of the Marine Corps, once declared Daly "the outstanding Marine of all time," while Daly's friend and comrade-in-arms General Smedley Butler (who was incidentally the only other marine to receive the Medal of Honor twice) deemed Daly "The fightinest Marine I ever knew," and declared that "it was an object lesson to have served with him." These are mighty high words of praise, but Daly, whose combat record remains unequaled in the annals of Marine Corps history, certainly seems to have earned them.
Today, a US Navy destroyer, the largest class of ship that can be named after a non-president, bears Daly's name in honor of his heroics.
bump
Who better to represent the honor and courage of Irish-Americans than the Irish-American priest who became the first of three chaplains to receive the Medal of Honor.
O'CALLAHAN, JOSEPH TIMOTHY
Rank and organization: Commander (Chaplain Corps), U.S. Naval Reserve, U.S.S. Franklin. Place and date: Near Kobe, Japan, 19 March 1945. Entered service at: Massachusetts. Born: 14 May 1904, Boston, Mass. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as chaplain on board the U.S.S. Franklin when that vessel was fiercely attacked by enemy Japanese aircraft during offensive operations near Kobe, Japan, on 19 March 1945. A valiant and forceful leader, calmly braving the perilous barriers of flame and twisted metal to aid his men and his ship, Lt. Comdr. O'Callahan groped his way through smoke-filled corridors to the open flight deck and into the midst of violently exploding bombs, shells, rockets, and other armament. With the ship rocked by incessant explosions, with debris and fragments raining down and fires raging in ever-increasing fury, he ministered to the wounded and dying, comforting and encouraging men of all faiths; he organized and led firefighting crews into the blazing inferno on the flight deck; he directed the jettisoning of live ammunition and the flooding of the magazine; he manned a hose to cool hot, armed bombs rolling dangerously on the listing deck, continuing his efforts, despite searing, suffocating smoke which forced men to fall back gasping and imperiled others who replaced them. Serving with courage, fortitude, and deep spiritual strength, Lt. Comdr. O'Callahan inspired the gallant officers and men of the Franklin to fight heroically and with profound faith in the face of almost certain death and to return their stricken ship to port.
You got that right!
"Wow...Irish and Italian...that must have been an interesting household."
LOL that it was, though my Grandfather spent most of his time working and my Grandmother was too busy raising 10 kids to really notice. ;^)
And more infamously, French also!
About 12 years ago he asked me that when I exceused myself and asked if he could move over for a moment while I ran a communication cable.
I answered "No Sir, Should I?"
I danced for the Sergeant Major and CO hard for that one. It was worth it.
how cruel to remind us on this of all days... but the one on the right (photographically speaking) doesn't have one drop of Irish blood (thank heaven for small favors)
I have a hero who's Irish but he's not in any history book yet he's spectacular nonetheless. Does that count?
thanks for that, I cry every time I read that thread
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