Irish
Men and Women Who Gave Their Lives in the Korean War
NAME,
RANK |
DATE, |
DATE,
CIRCUMSTANCE |
MAURICE
ANGLAND
PFC
U.S. ARMY |
JUL
22, 1928
MEENTINNA, ROCKCHAPEL, Chicago, Illinois |
OCT
4, 1951
Killed in Action North Korea Buried in Clonfert Cemetery, Newmarket, Co. Cork |
MARK
JAMES BRENNAN
SGT, U.S.
Army |
JUL
10, 1929
BALLINAMORE,
KILTIMAGH, Greenwich, Connecticut |
JUN
18, 1953
Non-Hostile Death, Air Crash while returning from R&R to his unit at Suwon Air Base, Korea. Buried
in
St.
Mary's RC Cemetery, North St., Greenwich, CT |
JOHN
CANTY
PFC, U.S. Army |
SEP
6, 1926
AHABEG,
LIXNAW, Chicago, Illinois |
AUG
26, 1951
Non-Hostile Death, Accident North Korea Buried
in
Kiltomey
Cemetery, Lixnaw, Co. Kerry |
WILLIAM
(BILLY) COLLINS
PFC,
U.S. Army |
DEC
14, 1928
TULLIG SOUTH,
TEMPLEGLANTINE, Queens, New York |
MAY
18, 1951
Killed in Action South Korea Buried in Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York |
JOHN
CORCORAN
PFC,
U.S. Army |
SEP
3, 1929
COOLIKERANE, MILLSTREET, CO. CORK Lafayette Parish, Louisiana |
SEP
24, 1950 Wounded in Action South Korea OCT 2, 1950: Died of Wounds Osaka Hospital, Japan Buried in Calvary Cemetery, Lafayette Parish, LA (gravesite photo) |
JOHN
FRANCIS DILLON
PVT
E-2, U.S. Army |
JUL
24, 1930
COOLE,
KILTEELY. Born Hartford, Connecticut to Irish parents. Raised in Co. Limerick, ages 4 through 17. |
FEB
09, 1953
Killed in Action North Korea Buried
in Kilteely
Cemetery, Co. Limerick |
WILLIAM SHARMAN DOUGLAS PFC, U.S. Army |
JAN 20, 1926 PORTAFERRY RD Erie County, New York |
JULY 11, 1950 Killed in Action near Chochiwon, South Korea Buried in Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, NY |
MICHAEL
FITZPATRICK
PFC,
U.S. Army |
MAY
8, 1928
CAPPAGH, CLAREMORRIS, CO. MAYO Whiting, Indiana |
AUG
18, 1951
Killed in Action North Korea Buried in Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, Worth, IL Also remembered by fellow medic PFC Vernon S. Fields |
BARTHOLOMEW
GALVIN
CPL,
U.S. Army |
AUG
16, 1923
GORTICURRANE,
ANNASCAUL, Weymouth, Massachusetts |
SEP
01, 1950
Killed in Action South Korea Buried
in Aglish
Cemetery, Annascaul, Co. Kerry |
MICHAEL
GANNON
CPL,
U.S. Army |
AUG
14, 1927
DOONIVER, ACHILL, Cleveland, Ohio |
FEB
13, 1951
Killed in Action South Korea Buried in Bunnacurry Cemetery, Achill, Co. Mayo |
MICHAEL
PATRICK HARDIMAN
PVT
E-2, U.S. Army |
SEP
22, 1926
MOYNE, BALLAGHADERREEN, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
MAR
06, 1951
Killed in Action South Korea Buried in Fairymount Cemetery (nr. Loughglynn), Co. Roscommon |
DANIEL
CHRISTOPHER (DONAL) HARRINGTON
PVT
E-2, U.S. Army |
JAN
22, 1926
ARDNACLUGGAN, EYERIES, CO. CORK Brooklyn, New York |
JUN
06, 1951
Killed in Action North Korea Buried in Old Cemetery, Castletownbere, Co. Cork (gravesite photo) |
MICHAEL
HERLIHY
PFC,
U.S. Army |
OCT
1, 1929
MOUNT FALVEY, SCARTAGLEN, San Francisco, California |
SEP
12, 1951
Killed in Action North Korea Buried in Ballydesmond Cemetery, Co. Cork |
DANIEL
JOSEPH (DANNY) KEOGH
PVT
E-2, U.S. Army |
SEP
13, 1928
CARTRON UPPER, DRUMLISH, Sparks, Nevada |
MAR
17, 1953
Killed in Action North Korea Buried in Drumlish Cemetery, Co. Longford |
MICHAEL
THOMAS KING
PFC,
U.S. Army |
NOV
25, 1924
ATTIAGHYGRANA, ELPHIN, CO. ROSCOMMON U.S. at large |
FEB
13, 1951
Killed in Action South Korea Buried in Shankill Cemetery (nr. Elphin), Co. Roscommon |
PATRICK
JOSEPH LAVIN
PVT
E-2, U.S. Army |
MAR
5, 1932
GLACKAUN, DRUMKEERAN, CO. LEITRIM Bronx, New York |
JUL
10, 1953
Killed in Action South Korea Buried in St. Raymond's Cemetery, Bronx, New York |
PVT
E-2, U.S. Army |
JUL
12, 1929
BROOKLAWN, KILCONLY, San Francisco, California |
AUG
27, 1951
Killed in Action South Korea Buried in Kilconly Parish Cemetery, Tuam, Co. Galway (gravesite photo) |
MICHAEL
A. McCORMACK
PFC, U.S. Army |
MAY
7, 1927
CHURCH PARK,
TAUGHMACONNELL, Boston, Massachusetts |
JUL
22, 1952
Non-Hostile Death, Drowned Chunchon, South Korea Buried in Taughmaconnell Cemetery, Co. Roscommon (gravesite photo) |
PATRICK
McENERY
PFC, U.S. Army |
OCT
12, 1927
TURAREE LOWER,
GLIN, Chicago, Illinois |
NOV
13, 1951
Killed in Action North Korea (Body Not Recovered) |
WILLIAM
JOHN MILLS
PVT
E-2, U.S. ARMY |
DEC
14, 1929
ENNISKILLEN
STREET, BELFAST, Jersey City, New Jersey |
NOV
05, 1951
Missing
in Action North Korea |
WILLIAM
FRANCIS MURPHY
PFC, U.S. Army |
OCT 11,
1922
SHANDON STREET, CORK CITY, New York City, New York |
FEB 12,
1951
Taken POW While in Action South Korea MAY 18, 1951: Died in Captivity North Korea (Body Not Recovered) William Murphy's fellow POWs Henry Contreras and Billy Joe Harris return the Corkman's watch to the Murphy family a half-century after his death. His nephew, Stephen Murphy, is on a quest to photograph all the graves in Ireland of the soldiers pictured here. |
THOMAS
JOSEPH O'BRIEN
SGT, U.S.
Army |
MAY
13, 1927
BALLYVISTEA,
EMLY, New York City, New York |
OCT
26, 1950
Killed in
Action North Korea
(Body Not Recovered)
|
ALPHONSUS O'CONNELL
CPL,
U.S. Army |
JUNE
29, 1927
SARSFIELD AVENUE, GARRYOWEN, LIMERICK CITY New York City, New York |
OCT
29, 1951
Killed in Action North Korea Buried in Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York (gravesite photo) |
OWEN
PRIOR
PFC, U.S. Army |
DEC
10, 1928
DERRADDA, BALLINAMORE, CO. LEITRIM Providence, Rhode Island |
JUL
21, 1952
Non-Hostile
Death, Drowned Buried in Coraleehan Graveyard (nr. Derradda), Co. Leitrim (gravesite photo) |
THOMAS
STEPHEN QUINN
PFC, U.S. ARMY |
DEC
25th, 1928
CLOONINSLA, BALLINLOUGH, CO. ROSCOMMON Toledo, Ohio |
OCT
6, 1951
Killed in Action North Korea Buried in Calvary Cemetery (military section), Toledo, Ohio (gravesite photo) |
WILLIAM
(BILLY) SCULLY
PFC,
U.S. Army |
FEB
9, 1924
KILGRENA, GALBALLY, Manhasset, Nassau County, New York |
JAN
14, 1951
Killed in Action South Korea Buried
in Galbally
Cemetery, Co. Limerick |
PATRICK
SHEAHAN
CPL,
U.S. Army |
MAR
3, 1928
LEITRIM MIDDLE,
NEWTOWN SANDES, New York City, New York |
OCT
4, 1951
Killed in Action Chungse-ri, North Korea Buried
in Murhur
Cemetery, Moyvane, Co. Kerry |
THOMAS
JOHN WARD
PFC, U.S. Army |
OCT
20, 1926
OSMAN STREET
(off FALLS ROAD) U.S. at Large |
AUG
22, 1950
Killed in Action South Korea Condolence
letter from Buried in Donaghmoyne Cemetery, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan (gravesite photo) |
JOHN
PATRICK WHITE
PFC,
U.S. Marine Corps |
APR
14, 1930
CAHERDANIEL, New York City, New York |
SEP
24, 1952
Taken POW While in Action North Korea (Body Not Recovered) |
PATRICK
AUGUSTINE WHITE
PFC,
U.S. Army |
OCT
19, 1927
LISDOO, DUNDALK, Moline, Illinois |
OCT
06, 1951
Killed in Action North Korea Buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Dundalk, Co. Louth |
Additions, corrections and comments will be gratefully received |
Current
as of September 11, 2003 (Please copy with this date) |
November 2nd, 2002: Posthumous Citizenship Bill becomes Law
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 above
Posthumous Citizenship Ceremony for Irish Soldiers
Read about the search for the Irish in Korea . . .
IRISH CIVILIANS WHO DIED IN KOREA, 1950-1953
NAME, OCCUPATION |
DATE, |
DATE,
CIRCUMSTANCE |
Missionary Priest (Roman Catholic) Columban Fathers
|
1915
KILLURSA, HEADFORD, CO. GALWAY |
DEC 6, 1950 Date of Capture: JUL 2, 1950 Died in Captivity Hanjang-ni, North Korea |
SR.
MARY CLARE, CSP née Clare Emma Witty Missionary Nun (Anglican) Society of the Holy Cross |
MAY 30, 1883 ENNISKERRY, CO. WICKLOW |
NOV
6, 1950
Date
of Capture: JUL 2, 1950 |
ANTHONY
(TONY) COLLIER
Missionary Priest (Roman Catholic) Columban Fathers
|
1913
CLOGHERHEAD, CO. LOUTH |
JUN
27, 1950
Executed Chunchon, South Korea Buried
in Chunchon, South Korea |
THOMAS
(TOM) CUSACK
Missionary Priest (Roman Catholic) Columban Fathers
|
1910
BALLYCOTTON, LISCANNOR, CO. CLARE |
SEP
24, 1950 (Probable Date of Death)
Executed Franciscan Monastery, Taejon, South Korea (Probable Place of Death: remains not recovered) Sent to Korea in 1936, interned by the Japanese 1940-1945 |
JAMES
MAGINN
Missionary Priest (Roman Catholic) Columban Fathers
|
BORN BUTTE, MONTANA; RAISED NEWCASTLE, CO. DOWN | JULY
1950
Buried in Chunchon, South Korea (graveside photo) |
JOHN
(JACK) O'BRIEN
Missionary Priest (Roman Catholic) Columban Fathers
|
1918
DUNAMON, CO. ROSCOMMON |
SEP
24, 1950 (Probable Date of Death)
Executed Franciscan Monastery, Taejon, South Korea (Probable Place of Death: remains not recovered) |
PATRICK
REILLY
Missionary Priest (Roman Catholic) Columban Fathers
|
1915
DUNRANEY, CO. WESTMEATH |
AUG
29, 1950
Shot after evading capture for a month Mukho, South Korea Buried in Chunchon, South Korea (graveside photo) |
Sgt John Leahy 82nd AAA Bn., 2nd Inf. Div |
PFC
Patrick Maguire |
|
|
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!
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.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to
Special thanks to
Thanks also to
--Brian McGinn Alexandria, Virginia Sept. 10, 2001
Heartfelt thanks also to
--Brian McGinn, Alexandria, Virginia, April 5th, 2002
IRELAND AND
KOREA -- LINKS
Patrick
Quinn
Former POW, Spoke on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the End of
the Korean War. His very
powerful speech is presented here In honor of
. . . National
POW/MIA Recognition Day (Observed
each year on the third Friday of September)
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.
Eligibility for Headstones or Markers
Available To commemorate those whose remains have
not been recovered or identified; or for those graves of veterans that are unmarked.
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.Senate Moves on Korean War Citizenship Bill
Sen. Schumer (NY) and Sen. Chafee (RI) Sponsor Companion Bill to H.R. 2623Hibernian Leader Supports Citizenship Bill
Ancient Order of Hibernians Join Campaign for H.R. 2623Kerryman John Leahy Discusses the Posthumous Citizenship Bill
Hear Leahy speak in this audio fileOct. 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 KinKorea Vets Aim for Citizenship by March 17
We are trying to fill out and send the necessary applications in by March 17Fallen Korean War heroes get recognition, at last
Hometown newspaper pays tribute to John Leahy's half century effortAdditional names added to Korean War honor rollLetter to Editor clarifying the citizenship status and burial places of Irish-born casualties
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.
"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.
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.)
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Who are those guys doing this website?
My Vietnam Related Websites:
The Irish on the Wall ~ An effort to locate the Irish who died in Vietnam
Women in
Vietnam ~ Read about ALL the women who served . . .
Tim
O'Brien's Home Page ~ National Book Award Winner and Americal Vet
Emily's Poetry
~ By a Red Cross Donut Dolly
All About
Vietnam ~ An annotated bibliography of books about Vietnam for
sale thru Amazon Worldwide!
Brian McGinn died July 20 after a long illness . . . He was the editor for the Irish sites and provided much of the content. His many friends and his family are truly bereft at his passing. I have seldom met anyone with more integrity. Brian was a rare combination of intellect, common sense, sweetness and fairness. His hard work helped many, not least those families who finally saw their soldiers made posthumous citizens. |
Page last updated
18-Dec-2008