THE IRISH IN KOREA

Irish Men and Women Who Gave Their Lives in the Korean War
(please link to www.IrishInKorea.org)

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

Stephen Murphy is on a quest to photograph the graves of the Irish soldiers killed in Korea and interred in Ireland

1952 photo of an American base camp in Korea showing  the primitive living conditions endured by U.S. troops, and the brutal, mountainous terrain over which they fought.

"Forever young: Never forgotten by kin, 29 now embraced by nation"
READ a Last Letter from one of the soldiers listed below
Posthumous Citizenship Ceremony for Irish Soldiers
Read about the search for the Irish in Korea . . .

                                                       
Read and leave your remembrance on the Memorial Page

U.S. Military

IRISH CIVILIANS WHO DIED IN KOREA, 1950-1953

Danny Doyle sings "Rose of Saigon" and "Let Them In, St. Peter"
(Buy the CD "Under Connemara Moon" with these songs from Amazon) 

• Many thanks to Danny Doyle for performing at the Citizenship ceremony!

IRELAND AND KOREA -- LINKS

NOTE ON SOURCES

"We owe it to the dead to get the details right." While all information presented above has been compiled under this guiding motto, variations in records and the vagaries of human memory prevent us from providing any absolute guarantee of accuracy and completeness.

Additions, corrections and comments will be gratefully received via e-mail at or by fax at 703-768-9240.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to

• Vickie Curtin of The Irish Center in Washington, D.C., for the introduction to Pat Maguire of Falls Church, Virginia, and to
  
• Dr. Eileen Sullivan of the Irish Educational Association in Gainesville, Florida for her help in locating John Leahy in St. Augustine, Florida. Insofar as possible, all names, birthplaces and dates provided by John and Pat have been verified in public records and/or corroborated by family members and close friends.

Special thanks to

• Mary Anne Joyce (née White) from Caherdaniel, whose brother John remains missing in action; to
  
• Mary Ann's husband Michael Joyce, from Galway, for his memories of his friends Patrick Lavin and Philip Lynch; to
  
• John Hardiman of Moyne, Ballaghaderreen, for confirming information on his brother Michael; to
  
• Mary Doody (née Fitzpatrick) in Chicago for sharing the story of her brother Michael from Claremorris; to
  
• Pat Quinn in Burbank, Illinois, a Downman who himself endured 32 months as a U.S. POW in North Korea, for bringing Maurice Angland to our attention; to Chicago-based
  
• Con McAuliffe from Cork for sharing memories of his pre-War friendship with Maurice Angland; to
  
• Nora May Angland and her husband
  
• John Sr. from Meentinna for their help in locating Maurice's family and burial place; to
  
• Oliver Fallon from Boyle for his dedication to the memory of his uncle-in-law Danny Keogh and his unstinting assistance with Patrick Lavin from Leitrim and Michael Hardiman and Michael King from Roscommon; to
  
• Eileen Harrington from Eyeries for her memories of her brother Donal; to
  
• Clare Lynch of Eyeries, whose uncle Jeremiah Lynch served the U.S. in Korea, for the introduction to Eileen Harrington; and to
  
• Mary Murphy Scanlon for filling in the gaps on her cousin and godfather John Corcoran from Millstreet; and to
  
• Bridie Crowley in Dublin and 
  
• Marie King in Roscommon for their help with their uncle and uncle-in-law Michael Thomas King.
  
• Pat Boyle of New York, a Korean War veteran from Co. Mayo, for bringing Mark Brennan from Kiltimagh to our attention; and to 
  
• Joe Brennan in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, for his help with his brother Mark; to
  
• Daniel F. Herlihy of Worcester, Massachusetts, a Korean War veteran from Co. Cork, for bringing fellow Corkman Michael Herlihy (unrelated) to this project's attention; to 
  
• Joseph Dillon in Coole, Kilteely, Co. Limerick, for his generous help with his brother John Francis, and for bringing his Tipperary neighbor Thomas J. O'Brien to our attention; to
  
• Peggy O'Brien in Ballyvistea, Co. Tipperary, for confirming details on her brother-in-law Thomas J. O'Brien; to
  
• Larry Zellers of Weatherford, Texas, who as a young Methodist minister shared the horrors of North Korean captivity with Anglican Sister Mary Clare, Columban Fr. Frank Canavan and Mons.. Thomas Quinlan, and Maryknoll Bishop Patrick Byrne, among many others, for remembering and recording their lives. 

Thanks also to

• Eileen the Reference Librarian at the Moline, Illinois Public Library and to the
  
• members of the St. Patrick's Society of the Quad Cities for their help with Patrick White from Dundalk. To
  
• LTC (Ret.) Kenneth H. Powers of Westport, Connecticut, historian of New York's 'Fighting 69th' Regiment, for generously sharing contemporary press accounts of the Irish dead.
  
• To the Columban Fathers of St. Columbans, Nebraska, for their help with the five Irish-born members of the Order who, together with the American-born Columbans Fr. Pat Brennan and Fr. Jim McGinn, were martyred in Korea.
  
• Reverend Mother Edith of the Society of the Holy Cross in Seoul for her help with Sr. Mary Clare, first Mother Superior of her missionary community.
  
• John O Neill of Dublin ( ) for his invaluable genealogical advice and research assistance on the most difficult-to-trace casualties, and for proving with the Irish in Korea, as he previously did for the Irish on The Wall, that if John can't find something in Irish records, it's because it's not there.

--Brian McGinn Alexandria, Virginia Sept. 10, 2001

Heartfelt thanks also to

• John "Gerry" Gannon in Alexandria, VA, a Korean War era U.S. Army veteran from Co. Mayo, for sharing memories of his friend Mark Brennan, and for his introduction to Mark's sister
  
• Helen Brennan Otto of Co. Mayo and Hudson, FL, for her encouragement of this effort, and for sharing memories, photographs and memorabilia of her late brother Mark Brennan; and
  
• Ed Finn of the Roscommon-Leitrim Genealogy Website, for his patient help with the intricacies of townland geography and spellings in those counties; and to
  
• Garda Tim Farrell of Taughmaconnell, Co. Roscommon, for his knowledge of local history and help in locating the family of Michael McCormack; and to 
  
• Pat Creavin of Taughmaconnell, for his encyclopedic knowledge and his assistance in solving the mystery of his cousin Michael McCormack's unit affiliation, and for his referral to his brother
  
• Joe Creavin, a Roscommon-born Korean War veteran in Boston, for sharing the story of his cousin's death in Korea; and
  
• Pat Prior in Derradda, Co. Leitrim, for locating and checking the burial place of his relative Owen Prior in Corraleehan graveyard, Leitrim, and for his referral to Owen's brother
  
• Laurence Prior and his wife Josephine of Newbliss, Co. Monaghan, for confirming details and sharing memories of their beloved brother Owen; and
  
• Fr. Gerard McGreevy, PP, Donaghmoyne, Co. Monaghan, for his unstinting assistance in checking birth records and the Ward family headstones in his parish cemetery; and his referral to
  
• the Kane family in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, for their help with Tommy Ward and their referral to
  *Michael Byrne in Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan, for confirming the birthplace of his cousin Tommy Ward; and his referral to
  
• John "Jack" McCluskey, a World War II U.S. Navy D-Day veteran from Chicago, IL, for sharing both his memories of his 1949 encounter with his cousin Tommy Ward, and his formidable investigative instincts and skills from his Chicago PD career, and for his introduction to his cousin
  
• Maisie Marron, 80, of Belfast, for drawing upon an infallible memory to confirm details of Tommy Ward's birth and early life in Belfast, and
  
• Garda Denis Connolly, a Sligo man and friend in Carrickmacross, for his interest in this project and his help in locating
  
• Kathleen 'Kit" Ward of Collon, Co. Louth, for her devotion to the memory of her brother-in-law Tommy Ward and her ongoing efforts to pin down and preserve the details of his too-brief 23 years; and
  
• John Oman of Dublin and Little Rock, Arkansas, a 20-year veteran of the US Air Force and holder of the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross, for valued advice, encouragement, and enthusiastic support of this effort from the start; and
  
• Stephen Murphy of Cork City, whose search for information on his uncle William Murphy, still Missing in Action in Korea, has blossomed into a tireless and meticulous effort to document and publicize the lives of all
  Irish-born casualties, and
  
• Marty O'Brien of Augusta, Maine, for tirelessly and generously sharing both his personal knowledge and prodigious research on the Korean War, and in particular his unmatched expertise on the Korean War's non-battle casualties, and
  
• Art Lajeunesse, a fellow Korean veteran from Latham, New York, for promptly and enthusiastically carrying on the voluntary efforts of his and Marty O'Brien's late friend Ken Page to ensure that updated information on all Irish-born casualties available on The Irish in Korea is shared with the American Battle Monuments Commission, whose Korean War Honor Roll database is considered an integral and official component of the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

--Brian McGinn, Alexandria, Virginia, April 5th, 2002

IRELAND AND KOREA -- LINKS

The Korean War Educator
Veterans' Memoirs, History, Reference Desk and U.S. Memorials on Lynnita Brown's Comprehensive Site Honoring Those Who Served.

Forgotten Soldiers of a Forgotten War--No Longer Forgotten!
In online edition of his book, courtesy of the Korean War Educator web site, Marty O'Brien of Augusta, ME Deciphers the Conflicting Data Concerning Korean War Casualties

Korean War Non-Battle Casualties (pdf file)
Korean-War Veteran Marty O'Brien's Pioneering and Comprehensive Effort to List all Army Non-Combat Deaths in Korea. Three Irish-born Casualties (Canty, McCormack and Prior) are documented.

Civilian POW Deaths
Irish-born Fr. Frank Canavan and Sr. Mary Clare, and Irish-American Bishop Patrick Byrne.

New Law Concerning Eligibility for Headstones or Markers
Now Available To Commemorate Those Whose Remains Have Not Been Recovered or
Identified

• Download Application Form for Memorialization Headstone or Marker -See b) under "Benefit Provided"

Limerick's Korean War Dead
As Irish soccer fans headed to Korea to cheer on their World Cup heroes, Stephen P. Murphy suggested they spare some thoughts for another team of  Irish heroes who gave their lives in Korea, half a century earlier.

Leitrim heroes of the Korean War (free registration required)
Nine Irish dead from Connaught, including two from Co. Leitrim

Courage in the Blood
Antarctic Heroism of Bart Galvin's Great-Uncle Tom Crean

The Korean War: A Fresh Perspective
Historical Significance of Korean War Sacrifices

• Posthumous Citizenship Initiative

U.S. Citizenship for Irish Dead
Korean War veteran John Leahy's quarter-century campaign to gain posthumous U.S. citizenship for the Irish soldiers who died serving with U.S. Forces in Korea.

POSTHUMOUS CITIZENSHIP RESTORATION ACT, 2001
Bill to grant U.S. citizenship to Irish and other foreign-born nationals who died serving the U.S. in the Korean War and other twentieth century U.S. conflicts.

• Bill Text
• Bill Status
• Press Release from Senator Charles E. Schumer (NY)
• Press Release from Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA)
• November 2nd, 2002:  Posthumous Citizenship Bill becomes Law

United States Code, Title 8, Section 1440-1
Text of 1989 Act on Posthumous Citizenship through Death while on Active-Duty Service, with application deadline of March 6, 1992 as it applied to casualties during Korean War.

H.R. 2623 to Extend Application Deadline
Press Release explaining efforts of U.S. Congressmen Marty Meehan (MA) and James McGovern (MA) to permit Posthumous Citizenship for America's fallen non-citizen soldiers.

Senate Moves on Korean War Citizenship Bill
Sen. Schumer (NY) and Sen. Chafee (RI) Sponsor Companion Bill to H.R. 2623

Hibernian Leader Supports Citizenship Bill
Ancient Order of Hibernians Join Campaign for H.R. 2623

U.S. Senate's Posthumous Citizenship Bill
Text and Status of S.1859

Posthumous Citizenship Bill Stalled by Summer
Congressional Recess Puts H.R. 2623 on hold till September

Kerryman John Leahy Discusses the Posthumous Citizenship Bill
Hear Leahy speak in this audio file

Oct. 23rd: Congress Sends Korea Bill to President
"Anyone who fights for America should officially be called an American"

Nov. 2nd: Posthumous Citizenship Bill becomes Law
President Bush's Signature Enables Families to Gain Honor for Kin

Korea Vets Aim for Citizenship by March 17 
We are trying to fill out and send the necessary applications in by March 17

Young Soldier's Family Has Hope for His Dream
More than 50 years after an Irish immigrant in the U.S. Army died in the Korean War, he may be posthumously awarded citizenship.

Fallen Korean War heroes get recognition, at last

Hometown newspaper pays tribute to John Leahy's half century effort

And 5 more.....

Additional names added to Korean War honor roll

Remembering Korean War Dead

Letter to Editor clarifying the citizenship status and burial places of Irish-born casualties

Ireland and Korea Compared
The Irish Times' former Asia correspondent finds parallels in Ireland for the troubled history of the divided and war-wracked Korean peninsula.

Are Koreans the Irish of the East?
A Globetrotting Irishman Finds a Second Home in Korea

Seoul Shamrock
The Present-Day Irish in Korea, Maintaining the Traditions

Korea - The Film
Based on a short story by the the Dublin-born writer John McGahern, who grew up in the rural town of Cootehill, Co. Cavan; Cathal Black's 1995 film uses the death of an Irish-born U.S. soldier in Korea to frame his haunting and stunningly photographed portrait of life and love in 1950s Ireland.

The Rediscovery of "Johnson's List"
How PFC Wayne A. 'Johnnie' Johnson's list of fellow POWs who died in North Korea came to light, decades after his own release from captivity.

POW and Civilian Deaths in Korea
Expanded and enhanced version of the original "Johnson's List", with civilian deaths and additional details on military casualties added by Timothy F. Casey, Command Sergeant Major (Ret.), US Army.

COLUMBAN FATHERS
Background on the Korean mission of the Irish religious order that lost seven priests--five of them Irish born and two Irish American--during the War.

SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CROSS
Missionary community of Anglican Sisters in Seoul in which Sr. Mary Clare from Ireland served as the first Mother Superior until her 1950 death in captivity.

THE ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES IN KOREA
Digitized version of Lt. Col. H. Hamill's account of the combat seen, and heavy casualties suffered, by the 1st Battalion of this Northern Irish Regiment in Korea.

MARYKNOLL'S IMPRISONED BISHOP 
Baltimore Sun staffer Eileen Ryan relates the inspirational story of her great-uncle Patrick James Byrne's captivity and death as a civilian prisoner in North Korea. The future bishop was born in Washington, D.C. to Irish-immigrant parents from Co. Cork. Story originally appeared in The (Baltimore) Sun, June 11, 2000, pp. 1, 22A, & 23A.  (Note: Fee involved to download online version.)

Irish on the Wall The Irish in WWII Irish in Other Wars and Armies Brian McGinn - a partial online Bibliography

Who are those guys doing this website?

My Vietnam Related Websites:
Women in Vietnam ~ Read about ALL the women who served . . .
The Irish on the Wall ~ An effort to locate the Irish who died in Vietnam
Tim O'Brien's Home Page ~ National Book Award Winner and Americal Vet
Emily's Poetry ~ By a Red Cross Donut Dolly
Shrapnel in the Heart ~ The most moving book you will read on Vietnam
All About Vietnam    ~ An annotated bibliography of books about Vietnam for sale thru Amazon Worldwide!
Battle Dressing ~
Project Hearts and Minds ~ Help put Viet Nam back together
Photos from a Holts' Military History Tour ~ My trip to Vietnam, February 1998

Page last updated July 18, 2007