New York, NY – New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry lead an Irish Wolfhound, the mascot of the battalion, during the 2013 St. Patrick’s Day Parade up 5th Avenue. The “Fighting 69th” traditionally leads the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The Irish in the American Armed Forces*
By Bill McTaggart, Hollywood Post 43
It is not surprising that Irish-Americans are important in the history of the U.S. Armed Forces. The 2010 census reported that there were more than 30 million Americans of Irish descent making Irish the second largest ethnic group in the United States (after German).
Irish immigrants and their descendants have been an important part of the American armed forces from the very beginning. According to contemporary testimony in the British Parliament, the Continental Army in the American Revolution was approximately half Irish. George Washington became a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick because Irish-born soldiers and Irish fundraisers were so important to his command.
Irish participation in the Revolution was not limited to the Continental Army. Irish also played a key role in the fledgling U.S. Navy. In fact, Congress designated John Barry, an Irish immigrant, as the “Father of the United States Navy.” [Source: Irish in the Revolution by Bob Lydon, irishamerica.com October / November 2004]
Irish-Americans have served with distinction for the entire history of the United States. “Of the 3,464 Medals of Honor awarded as of September 17, 2009, an estimated 2,021 have been awarded to Irish-American recipients, more than twice the number awarded any other ethnic group; Irish-born Americans have received the Medal of Honor which represents more than half of foreign-born MOH recipients. A monument to these Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients is located at Valley Forge’s Medal of Honor Grove; erected by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The first Irish American to receive the Medal was Michael Madden, who received it for his actions in the American Civil War.” (Citations omitted.)
[Source: List of Irish-American Medal of Honor recipients From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
An Army unit that is today fully integrated and diverse but still acknowledges its Irish roots is the New York “Fighting 69th”. The 69th Regiment, now part of the New York National Guard, traditionally leads New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade up Fifth Avenue with its Irish Wolfhounds mascots. Though today the regiment was “no more Irish than the Notre Dame football team”, it retains many of the traditions of its Irish heritage. Its officers and senior NCOs carry shillelaghs as a badge of rank on ceremonial occasions. Soldiers of the 69th wear sprigs of boxwood on their headgear in combat, as was first done in the Civil War.
The history of A Company of the 1st Battalion of the 69th dates all the way back to the American Revolution. The regiment has seen combat in five wars: The Civil War, World War I, World War II, Iraq War and the Afghanistan War. The 69th was an important part of the famous Irish Brigade that distinguished itself at Fredericksburg and other major battles during the Civil War.
[Source 69th Regiment website]
The next time we see the soldiers of the “Fighting 69th” with their shillelaghs and Wolfhounds lead the New York St. Patrick’s Day parade we will recognize that Irish in the U.S. Armed Forces represent the contribution of all immigrants to the development of our country.
The Fighting 69th (1940) Official Movie Trailer – James Cagney and Pat O’Brien
* March is Irish American History month.
Author: caLegion Contributor
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