| Letters to the editor
Proudly We Serve
I enjoyed your feature story “Proudly We Serve” in the October/November
issue. Bob Lydon did an excellent job in informing us of the numerous outstanding
contributions that both Irish-born and Irish-Americans have made to U.S.
military history. I believe, however, that one more name should be added
to those mentioned in his article.
Daniel Daly, a Marine born in Glen Cove, New York, was decorated with
the Navy Cross, the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart Medals
for three wounds, and other awards during World War I. Daly’s prior service
awards included the Medal of Honor in 1900 for valor during the Boxer Rebellion
and a Medal of Honor in 1915 for valor in Haiti. Although a small number
of service men, including one other Marine, General Smedley Butler, received
Medals of Honor for two separate combat actions, Daly received the second
highest award, the Navy Cross as well.
Daly, the First Sergeant of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion gained fame
during the battle for Belleau Woods when he led a charge from the trenches
with his legendary battle cry “Come on you sons of bitches, do you want
to live forever?” He was also cited for bravery later the same day and throughout
the war. It is very likely that if Daly had not already received two Medals
of Honor he would have received one for valor in 1918.
When I was in boot camp our drill instructor informed us that the inspiring
statue of the World War I Machine Gun Sergeant that commands the square
of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina is a
tribute to Daly. General Butler described Daly as the “fightingest” Marine
he ever knew. A postage stamp honoring Sergeant Major Daly would be a tribute
to every enlisted man and woman, past and present.
William M. Egan. McLean, Virginia
PS: The above information can be verified in an official publication
USMC, A Complete History, by the Marine Corps Association, Box 1775, Quantico,
Virginia 22134.
I thoroughly enjoyed Bob Lydon’s article “Proudly We Serve” about the
remarkable contributions of the Irish to the U.S. military, however, I want
to mention two additional Irish heroes. General Stephen Kearney was Commander
of the American forces in the Mexican-American War and was the first Governor
of California. His nephew, General Philip Kearney was the most decorated
soldier of the Civil War and was called by President Lincoln, “the bravest
man I have ever known.”
These men were descendants of Patrick Kearney, who emigrated from County
Cork to Philadelphia in the early part of the 18th century.
John Kearney. Cincinnati, Ohio
As a first-generation American of Irish descent I took pride in reading
Bob Lydon’s “Proudly We Serve.” However, since there is no mention of the
“Forgotten War,” permit me to expand on his research.
There were 131 recipients of the Medal of Honor from the Korean “Police
Action.” Of those, 94 were given posthumously. Among those brave young men,
Irish surnames were well represented, Murphy, O’Brien and Monegan, to name
but a few.
The costly “Police Action” sadly resulted in the deaths of 36,013 U.S.
military including nine Irish–born heroes who made the supreme sacrifice.
Wounded U.S. personnel amounted to 103,248 and missing in action 8,142.
Many of the latter were POWs never accounted for to this day.
Let us never forget the unselfish contribution made by those Army, Navy,
Marine and Air Force warriors who fought during the Korean War.
John J. O’Neill. Fort Collins, Colorado
Marvin & Keeshan
While well-intentioned, Mr. Cunning-ham’s letter in the Oct./Nov.
2004 issue concerning Captain Kangaroo and Lee Marvin serving together is
not true. Lee Marvin was a Marine and he was wounded, but it was during
the battle of Saipan in June 1944, not Iwo Jima, which occurred in February,
1945. He was awarded a Purple Heart, not the Navy Cross. Bob Keeshan, later
TV’s Captain Kangaroo, was also a Marine but he never saw action in WWII
as he enlisted in June, 1945 shortly before the end of hostilities.
Denis Ryan. Middle Village, New York
Ed. Note: Apologies to readers, and thanks to the many who wrote in.
We should have checked the facts in Mr. Cunningham’s letter before publication.
It appears that the story of Lee Marvin and Bob Keeshan serving together
has been circulating for some time and there are several websites devoted
to the topic. For the full story see the following link:
http://www.snopes.com/military/keeshan.htm
Patric’s forefathers
I write to suggest a change in “Irish Eye on Hollywood” (June/July
2004). The portion of the third from last paragraph that now reads “. .
. Irish-American actor Jason Patric (grandson of showbiz legend Jackie Gleason),”
should be changed to “. . . Irish-American actor Jason Patric (son of Pulitzer
Prize-winning playwright Jason Miller).”
The late Jason Miller won a Pulitzer Prize for That Championship Season.
He excelled in the role of Father Karas in The Exorcist. For decades, he
energized theater life – as actor, writer, teacher and director – in his
hometown, Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the regional theater bears his name.
Most of Miller’s important religious passages, including his funeral,
took place in Scranton at St. Patrick’s Church.
He was Irish-American through and through.
James V. Dolson. Received by E-mail
Ed. Note: Jason Patric’s maternal grandfather is Jackie Gleason.
A Day in Capitan Sarmiento
Michael G. Connaughton, tuvimos la oportunidad de leer la nota “A
Day in Capitan Sarmiento” en la revista Irish America de febrero. Nos sentimos
muy contentos de haber compartido ese día contigo y ver plasmado ese momento
en la publicación.
Felicitaciones por la nota y muchos saludos.
Jerry y Alicia en nombre de todos los integrantes de la Asoc. Padre Fidelis
Rush Consigue aquí las mejores y mas recientes ofertas de trabajo en América
Latina y USA: http://latam.msn.com/empleos/
The Irish Issue
Dear Ms. Harty,
I was disappointed by the Irish America October/November 2004 article
“The Irish Issue” by Deanna Turner.
I would like to point out the author’s distortions and obvious pro-Kerry
bias by phrasing my issue with a straightforward question.
When commenting about politics, is Irish America magazine Irish or American?
That is, given the choice in those rare instances of divergence between
American and Irish interests – which side do you favor?
Please do not recite the usual reply that you report only the facts –
this opinionated article belies that.
During my time in Ireland I witnessed increasing anti-American sentiment,
particularly in the media. It had little to do with Northern Ireland, but
N.I. was a means to commence disdain for America by blaming our inability
to rectify the disparate and often dysfunctional behavior by those parties
that initiated and continue to be responsible for this tragic situation.
While I’m at it, I might add that this is not unlike other internal world
conflicts, which it seems everyone expects America to solve. However, when
we try we are criticized, and when it appears we are not trying, we are
also criticized.
I’ll end this note by offering the suggestion that you better think twice
before trying to influence American politics. — The Irish are not the only
ones with long memories.
In the hope that you will consider this letter with the same positive
regard that I have for Ireland.
Yours Truly, Richard J. Egan. U.S. Ambassador (ret.)
Dear Ambassador Egan:
I am quite troubled by your recent letter to me re: the article in Irish
America about the respective positions of John Kerry and President Bush
on Ireland.
I think you may have misread the article in its entirety. We asked both
campaigns to answer a number of questions on N. Ireland, and we stated that
we would publish the results.
The Kerry campaign referred us to its statement on Ireland, which we
published, and the Bush campaign answered the specific questions that we
put to them. We published both side by side. There was no editorial involvement
whatsoever on our part except to note in the introduction that “The Kerry
campaign decided that the Kerry/Edwards Statement on Ireland covered all
points, while the Bush campaign answered all the questions.” How you could
find any editorial bias in any of that is beyond me.
Regarding the Irish media using Northern Ireland as “a means to commence
disdain for America,” I could not disagree more. Almost without exception
the American role in the Irish peace process, whether President Clinton’s
role or President Bush’s, has received widespread support and praise both
in the Irish media and here at Irish America. Indeed, we interviewed you
for our Dec./Jan. 2003 issue on the peace process and your role as U.S.
Ambassador to Ireland. And when you agreed to meet former IRA commander
Joe Cahill, despite British opposition, it was hailed in our sister publication
Irish Voice as a great act of courage both by you and the Bush White House.
The fact that Irish America magazine has earned a reputation as a strong
advocate for the Irish peace process back when it was neither popular nor
fashionable is one of our proudest boasts. The role that America played,
both with President Clinton and President Bush, has been hailed in our publication
as a tremendous help to securing peace in Ireland. If you call that interference
then we are glad to acknowledge our culpability.
As an American citizen, I am disappointed that you end your letter with
an implied threat that I “better think twice before trying to influence
American politics.” I’m sure I need not remind you of the First Amendment,
which, in my opinion, is one of the greatest freedoms ever given to any
country.
Patricia Harty. Editor
|
