SUCCESS! The USS Gallagher was officially named this morning!

May God bless him.

God bless Ireland and the United States.

Always Faithful

This is a most worthy dedication

My mother told be all about his sacrifice for our country..... which wasn't his homeland. Selfless, courageous and a true Marine to his core. He deserves to be remembered for the heroe he is. A true Irishman and marine to the core. Respect to his family and condolences for their loss. M.

I am a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, San Diego, the oldest fraternity in the United States. This is a great way to honor a young man who gave his all, and represented the Irish community as well.

Please name the ship after Patrick Gallagher

The Honorable Jim Mattis Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1000 Dear Jim, Sir, I am writing to you to most respectfully request that you consider the proposal to name a new U.S. Navy amphibious class ship, the “USS Patrick Gallagher”. As you may know, Corporal Patrick Gallagher was a native of County Mayo, Ireland. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1962 and joined the USMC in 1966. After Basic Training, Patrick was a member of H-Company, 2nd BN, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division taking part in “Operation Hastings” in Vietnam. In the early morning of 18 July 1966, an infiltrating enemy soldier managed to lob a grenade into the foxhole that Patrick shared with three Marines. He kicked the first grenade out of the hole and it exploded. The next grenade landed between Patrick and his comrades. With no thought of his own safety, Patrick threw himself on that grenade. He waited as his comrades evacuated the hole and then rolled over and pitched the grenade that was under him into the nearby river where it exploded. Other grenades were thrown as well. Miraculously, no one was injured in this attack. Patrick was recommended for the Medal of Honor for his act of selfless heroism. The review board downgraded it to a Navy Cross (seemingly because the grenade simply had not exploded). In January of 1967, General Westmoreland presented Patrick with his decoration and the photo and story were published in the in-country newspaper, “Sea Tiger”. Patrick had planned to visit his family in Ireland upon completion of his tour in Vietnam. Unfortunately, he was KIA on his last day in-country. His remains were repatriated to Ireland. His family had not seen him since his Basic Training Leave before deployment and he had hidden from them the fact that he was going to Vietnam to spare them any worry over his safety. In 2013, two Irish ex-pats living in Dallas, Marius Donnelly and Martin Durkan started a petition to honor Patrick b

It is a proper and fitting tribute to the bravery this man displayed, and the ultimate sacrifice he made, wearing the uniform of his adopted Country.

Proud to salute this true hero. He certainly should receive the CMH for his heroism.

Semper Fi!

this is a hero not harvey milk

Known by my good friend, Manuel Travassos, who was in the same Battalion with Corporal Gallagher in Viet Nam and who was also injured when stepping on a land mine. Tremendous sacrifices by these young men.

A hero

I, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Secretary of the Navy direct that a DDG class ship scheduled to be procured in or after 2017, be named in honor of Corporal Patrick "Bob" Gallagher, USMC, Navy Cross, of Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, Ireland (KIA ~ Da Nang 1967)

Too many things are named after someone simply for being famous. To have a ship named after someone who gave his life willingly to protect his friends will be a fitting way to memorialize his selfless actions.

a worth remembrance to a fallen hero

Do without delay please!

To be awarded the Navy Cross is in itself a great honor. I learned that this young man was an immigrant that arrived from Ireland on a Green-card and was not a US citizen at the time was drafted into US military service nor at the time of his death in South Vietnam. It took great intestinal fortitude to throw himself on a live grenade knowing that it meant death to himself but in doing so, he saved his fellow Marines. To commission a US Navy Destroyer (DDG) in the name of Patrick Gallagher would ensure to the rest of the free world that Patrick Gallagher and military members like him are still patrolling the oceans and seas of the world in name of freedom.

I am also a recipient of the Navy Cross and I support this effort