The USS Patrick Gallagher

How many United States Navy ships have been named after non-citizens? Not many, is a good answer. The short list includes the USS Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister), USS Tecumseh (an early Native American rights’ leader who had his name on four naval ships and one Federation starship!), USS Mariano G. Vallejo (statehood advocate for California) and a handful of others. Today, I write about a new destroyer, the USS Patrick Gallagher, still under construction and to be named after an Irish citizen and U.S. Marine. It is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, providing a little comic relief in an otherwise somber story. Admiral Arleigh Burke was not of Irish descent. His grandfather, August Björkgren, was of Swedish (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_American) descent, and upon emigrating to the U.S., changed his surname to “Burke,” obviously a great Irish surname, to sound more “American.” So he’s not an ancestor of mine.  

         Who is Patrick Gallagher, and how did he get a ship named after him? Gallagher was born in Derrintogher, outside Ballyhaunis, in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1944. As a young Irishman, he aspired to more than Ireland had to offer at the time, so he immigrated to the United States in 1962 at the age of 18. He worked in property management and began the study of law until he got a draft assignment. His stateside sister implored him to simply return to Ireland to avoid the draft, but Gallagher would not have it; he was going to serve the country that had taken him in, citizenship or not. He did return to Ireland, visiting family, but never told them that upon his return he would be joining the United States Marines.

         In Vietnam, Patrick was a member of Hotel Company, 2/4 Marines, 3rd Division. While serving in a forward position at Cam Lo with three other Marines who were sleeping, they came under grenade attack. Patrick kicked away the first grenade, but the second fell between his two comrades. In an unselfish and heroic manner, he threw himself on the grenade to personally absorb the blast. But it didn’t go off. Gallagher stayed on the grenade as his three friends escaped the position, even though two more grenades were thrown into the position to explode around him. With his buddies safe and unhurt, Gallagher then rolled off the grenade at his squad leader’s order and threw the grenade into the nearby river where it immediately exploded upon hitting the water.

         Considering his “extraordinary heroism and inspiring valor,” Gallagher was awarded the Navy Cross. His act of unselfishness would have earned the highest award, the Medal of Honor, had Gallagher died, even though death is not a requirement for a Medal of Honor. The Navy Cross recipient, Gallagher, died three weeks later after coming under enemy fire. 

         The naming of the ship after Gallagher also symbolically incorporates 21 other Irish nationals who fought and died in Vietnam. Their names are all listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, but Patrick Gallagher’s name will also be christened on the new destroyer when it rolls down the launch. 

         Lest a certain redhead give me grief, I should mention that my wife’s surname, Gallaher, is synonymous with Gallagher. Often, at immigration entry sites, the “gh” would be replaced with just an “h.” So she is, no doubt, ultimately related to Cpl. Gallagher in some form or fashion. 

Kelly Burke, retired attorney, former district attorney and magistrate judge, writes about the law, rock ’n’ roll, and politics or anything that strikes him. These articles are not designed to give legal advice, but are designed to inform the public about how the law affects their daily lives. Contact Kelly at dakellyburke@gmail.com to comment on this article or suggest articles that you’d like to see, and visit his website at www.kellyrburke.com to view prior columns and contact Kelly. 

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