Senator Charles Schumer, who played a decisive role in persuading the United States Navy to name its latest Arleigh-Burke class destroyer after Vietnam War hero and Mayo native Patrick "Bob" Gallagher has hailed the the christening of the ship which took place at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine on Saturday, July 27.
Said Schumer's office in a statement: "After a years-long, all-out effort, that included arranging a critical meeting on Long Island between the family of Marine Corps hero Corporal Patrick Gallagher and then-Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer successfully pushed the U.S. Navy to name a destroyer, the Arleigh Burke-class DDG-127, in honor of USMC Corporal Patrick 'Bob' Gallagher, and today he is proud to announce that the ship is being christened in Bath, Maine on Saturday, July 27.
Schumer paid special tribute to then-Secretary Spencer for honoring Corporal Gallagher with the naming of the USS Patrick Gallagher.
“Without the speedy, professional and decisive response of Secretary Richard Spencer, we would not be here today to make yet another wonderful announcement. Secretary Spencer knew that Patrick Gallagher’s is a compelling story that fits deeply with the very best traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the way the United States Marine Corps honors its heroes,” said Schumer, New York's senior senator and majority leader in the U.S. Senate.
Added the statement from Schumer's office: "Corporal Patrick Gallagher was an Irish immigrant from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo who settled on Long Island in 1962, volunteered on the senate campaign of Bobby Kennedy and later chose to serve in the Marines Corps of his adopted nation – before he was a citizen.
"While serving in Vietnam, Corporal Gallagher was awarded the Navy Cross, the nation’s second highest military award, for his extraordinary heroism during a surprise attack he survived, in which he dove on a live grenade and saved his comrades from injury and death. Tragically, after receiving the Navy Cross directly from General William Westmoreland, Corporal Gallagher was killed in a firefight just days before the end of his tour of duty.
"In September 2017, joining a robust chorus of supporters on both sides of the Atlantic, Schumer wrote to Secretary Spencer and asked that the Navy pay tribute to Corporal Gallagher’s sacrifice and willingness to serve his adopted nation by naming a ship in his honor. Soon after, Schumer personally invited Secretary Spencer to Long Island to meet the Gallaghers and again made the case for the ship naming in his honor."
Added the senator: “The christening of USS Patrick Gallagher is another great day for America and Ireland and all Irish Americans, who have contributed so mightily to the greatness of this nation.
“There are few things more special than to know the story of Long Island’s Patrick Gallagher, an Irish immigrant who simply loved America—died for America—and is rightfully honored by America with a U.S. Navy destroyer adorned with his name.
"Corporal Gallagher’s breathtaking bravery and selflessness has long-deserved to be memorialized and naming a ship in his honor is the perfect tribute to recognizing this Irish-American hero from our very own Long Island. The courage and bravery of our fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, including those immigrants who have made the ultimate sacrifice even before receiving citizenship, is the American dream manifest.”
Patrick Gallagher was an immigrant from the Irish town of Ballyhaunis in County Mayo and moved to Long Island in 1962. Four years later, Corporal Gallagher chose to serve in the Marines and was stationed in Vietnam.
“The green and red of Mayo, which was never far from his heart, was replaced by the red, white and blue of Old Glory when Patrick Gallagher became a U.S. Marine for his adopted nation,” said Schumer.
The statement from Schumer's office continued: "One night, during the first year of his tour in Vietnam, Corporal Gallagher was involved in a surprise attack by enemy fighters. While his fellow Marines slept, adversaries invaded the area and lobbed grenades into the middle of their camp.
"Heedless of the risk posed to himself, Gallagher kicked a grenade away from the area in which his fellow Marines were sleeping. When another grenade followed, Corporal Gallagher threw himself on the deadly grenade in order to absorb the explosion and save the lives of his comrades. Using his quick wits, Corporal Gallagher was able to throw the grenade he was lying on into a nearby river, and escape the situation without injury. Corporal Gallagher was awarded the Navy Cross – directly by General William Westmoreland – for his bravery during the surprise attack incident.
In 1967, Corporal Gallagher was tragically killed in action on one of his last scheduled days in Vietnam. Gallagher is one of more than 30 Irish citizens killed in the Vietnam War.
Continued Schumer: "And now, in the tradition of other Long Island heroes, like Lt. Michael Murphy, the USS Gallagher will soon set sail and make our nation proud."
In his September 2017 letter and in phone calls and meetings with Secretary Spencer, Schumer demonstrated there was precedence for honoring heroic immigrant service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Schumer explained that a Navy destroyer had been named after fallen USMC hero Rafael Peralta, also a recipient of the Navy Cross, for heroic actions that very closely parallel those of Corporal Patrick Gallagher’s.
“The USS Patrick Gallagher pays rightful tribute to Corporal Gallagher’s sacrifice, to his willingness to serve his adopted nation, and will serve as a permanent reminder to all of his bravery, selflessness and patriotism,” Schumer noted.
Schumer had said that the naming of a destroyer for Corporal Gallagher was consistent with the Navy’s policy of naming destroyers for "distinguished heroes who are deceased members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard."
Schumer was not alone in his plea for a Navy ship to be named after Corporal Gallagher. A petition, started in 2013, surpassed its goal of 10,000 signatures.
