#OnThisDay 1951 Cpl Patrick Sheahan (pic) from Kerry was killed in action in fighting at Chungse-ri, North Korea while serving with the US Army. Sheahan had received both the Silver and Bronze Star for bravery. There is an argument made that Sheahan should have received the Medal of Honor but didn’t because he was not a US citizen. Sheahan has joined the Army in New York City to fast track his US citizenship.
PFC Maurice Angland from Cork was also KIA OTD.
#OnThisDay 1939 Captain Werner Lott & German sub U-35 landed 28 Greek prisoners at Ventry harbour, Kerry after sinking their ship Diamantis. Lott knee the sea was too rough to leave the Greek sailors in lifeboats so took them on board his sub and gave them clothes, food and cigarettes.
This affair made the cover of Life Magazine & Lord Mountbatten later thanked Lott. Lott visited Kerry in the 1980s and met the owners of the house that the prisoners were kept in until the authorities arrived.
#OnThisDay 1920 Twelve members of the Schull IRA attacked the local RIC barracks having discovered the password (Kilmallock) to gain entry. They captured 13 rifles, 26 revolvers & pistols, 100 shotguns & ammo. Some of these were allegedly used at Kilmichael.
#OnThisDay 1918 US Marine John Joseph Kelly won both the Army & Navy versions of the Medal of Honor at Blanc Mont Ridge. Kelly ran through his own artillery barrage, attacked an enemy machine-gun nest, killed the crew & returned with eight prisoners.
#OnThisDay 1691 The Treaty of Limerick was signed ending the Williamite war in Ireland but the “ink wasn’t dry” before the Anglo-Irish Parliament reneged on the promises of religious equality.
Meanwhile the Wild Geese leave: 14,000 soldiers left Ireland for European armies.
The Irish at War 