© Marie Maguire 2004

2004 Commemoration of Posthumous Citizenship Ceremony
"Remembering Again Their Sacrifice"

Oct. 2004, people came together to remember the Irish Nationals killed in the Korean War and to commemorate the first anniversary of their posthumous citizenship.

You can see it was a beautiful fall day in Washington, D.C.

Pictured is Korean War veteran Pat Maguire from Mullaghdun, Co. Fermanagh.

Pat Maquire is a combat veteran who served with the 35th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division.  

He was severely wounded and medevaced to the States during the firefight, on 6 June 1951, in which Donal Harrington was killed.

Wounded twice, he is a holder of the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, (awarded instead of a second medal). 

Brian and Mary McGinn (the former Mary Moran from Ballina, Co. Mayo) with wreaths laid in the service.  

Brian McGinn is the creator of this website and was very involved in the campaign to secure citizenship for the fallen Irish Nationals who served under the US flag. Brian was born in the states and raised in Ireland.

 
© Eamon Moran 2004

© Eamon Moran 2004
Vickie Curtin of Failte, The Irish Center of Washington, D.C., with Jim McDaniels of the Keena Highlanders. Jim McDaniels is a veteran of two tours in Vietnam, where he flew Huey helicopters.

The wreath was laid to the stirring strains of "The Minstrel Boy to the War Has Gone."

 

Memorial card placed at the Korean War Memorial on October 30, 2004. Murphy died in North Korea as a prisoner of war. His remains have never been recovered.


Courtesy of Myra Dillon Barrs

Photo of U.S. base camp in North Korea, 1952.
Sent to his sister Myra by John Dillon from Kilteely. Co. Limerick, who was killed in action in February 1953.  It shows the primitive living conditions endured by U.S. troops, and the brutal, mountainous terrain over which they fought.

 

Irish on the Wall

Irish in the Korean War

The Irish in WWII

Irish in Other Wars and Armies