Mayo US marine remembered by Taoiseach and US Senator

AN Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has spoken with New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer after it was decided the US Navy will name its next destroyer ship in honour of a young Mayo marine who died in Vietnam.

The Taoiseach and Democratic Minority leader met during the Fine Gael leader’s trip to the US as part of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Cpl. Patrick ‘Bob’ Gallagher, from Ballyhaunis, will be remembered by the US Government which is to name its newest Arleigh-Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer as the USS Gallagher, 51 years after his death.

On July 18, 1966, 23-year-old Cpl Gallagher saved the lives of three comrades in Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross, the US Navy’s highest honour.

On March 30, 1967, the Mayo man, who was the second eldest of nine children, was shot dead while on patrol in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Last year in a letter to US Secretary of Navy Richard Spencer, Senator Schumer asked that the next available destroyer ship be named after Cpl Gallagher as “the courage and bravery of our fallen soldiers, including those immigrants who have made the ultimate sacrifice even before they have received citizenship, is the American dream manifest.”

The senator said: “Cpl Gallagher’s breath-taking bravery and courage deserves to be memorialised and naming a navy ship after the Cpl. Gallagher would be the perfect tribute to recognise this Irish-American hero on behalf of a people who have contributed so mightily to the greatness of our nation.”

Senator Schumer said there was “a powerful and growing chorus of supporters from Ballyhaunis to Brooklyn who are for naming a United States Navy destroyer after the Vietnam war hero from Co Mayo, Cpl Patrick ‘Bob’ Gallagher, and I am proud to add my voice to this very worthy cause.”

* Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is pictured with Senator Chuck Schumer.