Christening of US naval vessel named in honour of Mayo man to take place

A multi-billion dollar US naval vessel named after a Mayo man who lost his life in the Vietnam War is to be officially christened at a ceremony in Maine. 

Relatives of the late LCpl Patrick Gallagher will be in attendance when the recently-launched USS Patrick Gallagher is christened at a ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works on June 27. 

Cpl Gallagher, a native of Ballyhaunis, was awarded the Navy Cross medal for his extreme selflessness and bravery on July 18, 1966, after his position near Cam Lo was attacked by North Vietnamese troops.

During the attack, he kicked away an enemy grenade which exploded a safe distance away, not wounding him or his comrades.

He then jumped on another grenade, which subsequently detonated after it was tossed into water. 

LCpl Gallagher was killed during a firefight with enemy troops near De Nang on March 30 the following year. He was the first Irish man to die during the Vietnam War and one of 30 known citizens from the Republic of Ireland who were killed while serving with US forces during the war.

The USS Patrick Gallagher had its keel laid in 2021 on the 55th anniversary of his death. 

A crowd of approximately 2,000, will be in attendance for the ship's christening, including the Gallagher family, extended family and many people travelling from Ballyhaunis along with many Irish people living in the USA.