69th Infantry Regiment

69th Infantry Regiment
69th Infantry Regiment coat of arms
Active	1851 - Present
Country	United States of America
Branch	Army National Guard
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Size	One battalion
Garrison/HQ	New York City & Long Island
Nickname	Fighting 69th Battle Cry - "Faugh an Beallach" {Clear The Way!}
Motto	Gentle When Stroked; Fierce when Provoked
Colors	Green
March	Garryowen
Mascot	Irish Wolfhound
Anniversaries	March 17th (St Patrick's Day)
Engagements	Revolutionary War (Company "A") American Civil War - Bull Run, Peninsula Campaign, Fair Oaks, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Antietam , Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Appomattox Punitive expedition of 1916 World War I - Champagne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne World War II - Makin Island, Saipan, Okinawa Global War on Terror - Noble Eagle, Iraq Campaign, Afghanistan Campaign
Commanders
Notable commanders	Michael Corcoran Thomas Francis Meagher "Wild Bill" Donovan Captain John T. Prout

U.S. Infantry Regiments
Previous	Next
65th Infantry Regiment	71st Infantry Regiment

The 69th Infantry Regiment is a military unit from New York City, part of the New York Army National Guard. It is known as the Fighting 69th (a name possibly given to it by Robert E. Lee). As the citation from poet Joyce Kilmer illustrates, this unit is also the original owner of "Fighting Irish" nickname, which the University of Notre Dame inherited via chaplains who served with the unit during the Civil War. The regiment currently consists of a single light infantry battalion (1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment) and is part of the 27th Brigade Combat Team and the 42nd Infantry Division. Its history dates back to 1849, when it was created as the 9th Regiment New York State Militia, and A Company, 1/69 can trace roots back to the American Revolution. The regiment has seen combat in five wars: the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, Iraq War and the Afghanistan War. It has also participated in 23 campaigns.

It is an Irish heritage unit, with many of its traditions and symbols deriving from a time when the regiment was made entirely of Irish-Americans. The regiment's Civil War Era battle cry was "Faugh a Ballagh;" which is Irish Gaelic for "Clear the Way." This is reminiscent of the cry of the Irish Brigade of the French Army in the Battle of Fontenoy. A World War I era battle cry is "Garryowen and Glory!" Its Motto is "Gentle when stroked - Fierce when provoked" in reference to the Irish Wolfhounds on its crest and dress cap badges of 1861.

The unit's Regimental crest depicts both the 1861 Regimental dress cap device braced by two Irish Wolfhounds and the red shamrock of the First Division of the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac in the Civil War. These separated by a rainbow depicting the units service as a founding regiment of the 42nd Rainbow Division in World War I. The Green background is a unique honor; most infantry units are required to have an infantry blue background. The regiment has this because its Civil War Regimental colors (flags) were green with the Golden Harp of Ireland.

Contents 1 Early history 2 The Civil War 3 Post Civil War 4 World War I 5 Post World War I 6 World War II 7 Operation Noble Eagle 8 Operation Iraqi Freedom 9 Tributes 9.1 General Douglas MacArthur tribute to the 69th 9.2 President Kennedy tribute in the Irish Parliament 9.3 Ireland memorial 10 Medal of Honor Citations 10.1 Peter Rafferty 10.2 Timothy Donoghue 10.3 Keele, Joseph 10.4 Michael A. Donaldson 10.5 William Joseph Donovan 10.6 Richard W. O'Neill 10.7 Alejandro R. Renteria Ruiz 11 Traditions and Trivia 12 The 69th Regiment Armory 13 References 14 External links 14.1 Current Unit 14.2 Historical Renactors & Civil War History

Early history

For over 100 years, the Army designated the founding date of the 69th Regiment as 1851. Historians writing about the first 10 years of the Regiment discussed the Second Irish Regiment and its ties to the New York Irish community. However, late in the 20th century, the U.S. Army changed the lineage of some of the New York regiments giving the 69th an earlier organization date. This change provided the Regiment with a more colorful early history linking it much more closely to the Irish revolutionary movement in New York City. This was a significant change which immediately rendered all existing histories of the 69th Regiment incomplete. Furthermore, the change linked the 69th even more closely with attempts to form an “Irish Brigade” within the New York militia system. Since the change only affected the years between 1849 and 1858, the only shortfall in the existing Regimental histories was the new lineage link to the First Irish Regiment (Irish 9th) and the 4th Irish Regiment (75th) during those years prior to its consolidation with the 69th in 1858.

After the failed Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848, Irish revolutionary activity transferred from Ireland to New York City. Irish patriots in New York believed they needed to form an Irish Brigade composed of Irish regiments to free Ireland from British control. To that end, they began to organize independent military companies in New York City. In late 1848 and early 1849, the first companies were formed. Drills were conducted at the Center Market and by mid 1849 a skeleton of the First Irish Regiment had been formed. As can be seen in the Lineage and Honors Certificate, which is mounted on the wall in the front hall of the 69th Armory, it is to this regiment that the 69th traces its earliest history and lineage. The Lineage and Honors Certificate of the 69th Regiment can be found at: http://www.sixtyninth.net/lineage.html. Michael Doheny, a refugee from the failed 1848 Revolt was one of the Company Commanders of this Regiment. He was instrumental in the founding of all the early Irish Regiments.

In the summer of 1849 and continuing until the fall, Irish leaders in New York City began negotiations with the State to form an Irish regiment with the existing and future independent Irish companies. On December 21, 1849 the First Irish Regiment was adopted by the State. (This date is the officially recognized date of organization for the 69th Regiment.) Many of the Irish revolutionary leaders, including Michael Phelan, Michael Doheny, Richard O’Gorman, and James Huston, participated in the meetings. Doheny, O’Gorman, and Huston had participated in the failed Irish Revolt of 1848. Phelan was not in Ireland in 1848 but he also believed the Irish must train soldiers within the New York State Militia system to free Ireland. What is known about the meetings is that the “original Ninth Regiment” which had been formed in 1799, was disbanded on May 27, 1850 with its companies transferred to the Eight Regiment. Two days later, on May 29, 1850 the First Irish Regiment was mustered into the New York State Militia as the 9th Regiment with Colonel Benjamin Clinton Ferris, Commander.

Over a year later, the Second Regiment of the proposed Irish Brigade was organized on the 12th of October 1851. The Second Irish Regiment was mustered into the New York State Militia on November 1, 1851 as the 69th Regiment. This was the unit to which the 69th previously traced. Michael Doheny left the 9th and was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 69th. In May 1852, another Irish Regiment (Third Irish Regiment designated the 72d Regiment) was established on Long Island.

In 1852, Thomas Francis Meagher, another leader of the failed Rebellion of 1848, escaped to New York and took an active role in the Irish Republican movement in New York. Later that year, Doheny began to organize another Irish Regiment with Meagher as the Commander. Doheny left the 69th to become the Lieutenant Colonel of this new Irish Regiment designated the 75th Regiment (organized September-December 1852 at New York from new and existing companies of volunteers as the Republican Rifles (4th Irish Regiment)). Since Meagher was rarely in New York, Doheny was the actual Commander. The organization of the Irish Brigade was substantially in place by the summer of 1853.

Leaders from the three Irish regiments in New York City moved back and forth within the three regiments through out the 1850s. Captain James Huston left the 9th to join the 69th as did Michael Doheny. Meagher was elected Lieutenant Colonel by the 69th in 1855 but he turned the position down since he was not a citizen. The three Irish regiments in New York City co-existed until late 1858 when all three were rolled into the 69th. Thus the Irish Brigade went out of existence not to be resurrected until the Civil War. The 9th Regiment ceased to exist until later the next year when it was once again organized.

For over 100 years, the lineage of the First Irish Regiment ("Irish 9th") was awarded by the Army to the new 9th Regiment organized in 1859 but unlike the 69th other than the name, that regiment had nothing linking it to the First Irish Regiment (Irish 9th). The Army decided to award the lineage of the First Irish Regiment to the 69th rather than the new 9th and changed the date of organization of the 69th from 1851 to 1849. It is not uncommon for a regiment to trace back to two or more units. In fact, during the Civil War three “69th Regiments” co-existed and those three regiments (69th New York National Guard, 69th New York State Volunteers and the 182d Infantry Regiment) are all part of the 69th Regiment’s proud lineage and history. When the 9th Regiment was consolidated with the 75th in 1858, the 69th gained the history and lineage of the 4th Irish Regiment. The 69th therefore was now formed in 1849 and linked to the three Irish Regiments in New York City. (The 3d Irish Regiment was formed for a short time in Brooklyn but their lineage and history is not part of the 69th.)

The formation of the Irish Regiments caused uneasiness among American “Nativists”. The Know Nothing Party was rising in power. In 1852, the Nativists were successful in forming a new regiment designated the 71st Regiment, the “American Guard” as a counterbalance to the 69th. It was commanded by Colonel Vosburg until he died in 1861. Although the 69th and the 71st represented opposite poles of political and religious thinking and had no contact during the 1850’s, they became extremely close in 1861 when both were stationed in Washington prior to the Battle of Bull Run. . .

Within the 9th Regiment, Captain James Houston commanded a secret organization known as the “SF”, which was composed of Irish revolutionaries. The “SF” (referred to as “Silent Friends” by Patrick D. O’Flaherty in “The History of the Sixty-Ninth Regiment of the New York State Militia 1851 to 1861”) was called the “Sinn Feins” by J.C.P. Stokes the Historian of the 9th Regiment in his November 4, 1953 letter to BG Keys concerning the history of the Irish 9th.

In 1854 the Crimean War between England and Russia presented an opportunity for Irish Revolutionaries in New York but disputes between James Huston (leader of the SFs) and Michael Doheny resulted in crippling the movement. Huston eventually left the 69th but the conflicts between the Irish Revolutionary leaders continued. Although radical Irish societies were formed, all attempts to strike a blow for Ireland during the Crimean War failed. Conflicts between Archbishop Hughes and the Irish Revolutionary leaders further exacerbated the situation

1855 was a turbulent year in New York City and racial, religious, and political fever reached the highest pitch in the history of the City. In January, one of the most prominent gang leaders and champion of the Native American faction, Bill Poole, called “Bill the Butcher” was killed. Two Irishmen were arrested for the crime. The Know Nothings attempted to make political capital out of the affair and attempted to stir up anti-Catholic sentiments. There were several riots in the City and both the 69th and the 9th were called out to restore order. It was decided military units would not march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade because of the strained conditions which existed. On St. Patrick’s Day 1855, the 9th, 69th, 7th and 12th Regiments were held at the regimental parade ground to await orders rather than march in the Parade. As soon as the 69th was released they marched with fixed bayonets down Broadway through the Park before they were dismissed. The other military units did not march.

In 1855, Irish military units in several states came under pressure. In Cincinnati, when it was believed the native American faction would not let foreign militia companies take part in the July 4th Parade, the Irish and German units decided to hold their own celebration. On hearing this, General Sargent, a Know Nothing politician ordered them to parade, The commander of the Sarsfield Light Artillery, Captain Dowd, refused to march claiming Sargent had no authority to order them out. The armory was broken open by the Sheriff and the arms of the Sarsfield Guard were seized. In 1856 Governor Minor of Connecticut dissolved the Irish companies in the state leaving the German companies intact. Irish militia companies in Massachusetts and Ohio were disbanded. Although there was no direct action taken against the Irish Regiments in New York, within three years the only Irish Regiment remaining would be the 69th and within five years the Commander of the 69th, Colonel Corcoran would be on trial by Courts Martial with the Nativists calling for the disbanding of the Regiment.

A new Irish secret society was formed and came to be called the Fenians. Although not powerful within the 9th they were extremely so within the 69th. After the consolidation with the 9th in 1858, the 69th adopted the name “National Cadets” which was formerly used by the 9th. The Finians, as they were called, were founded as the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood in 1858 by one of the leaders of the 1848 Revolt, James Stephens. Michael Corcoran was the second in command. At the outbreak of the Civil War Corcoran commanded the 69th Regiment and was also the head of the Fenians. As the leader of the Fenians, he advised the Fenian membership not to join the militia.

During the Civil War, Irish Republican leaders who were instrumental in the forming the Irish Brigade of the 1850’s were still active with Irish militia (even if they were not members). Michael Phalen (leader of the SF group within the 9th) and Richard O’Gorman, both of whom participated in the negotiation with the State in 1849, were raising funds for 69th family members wounded at Bull Run in 1861. Huston was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Meagher returned from Bull Run to form the Irish Brigade. Corcoran, who was captured at Bull Run, returned to New York and formed another Irish Brigade which was called Corcoran’s Legion. Doheny, who was the most tenacious of the Irish rebels, died in 1862. In the early 1850’s, he had stopped believing that Irish units should be organized within the militia system since it created a conflict of allegiances.

In 1860, Michael Corcoran was named Colonel of the 69th. He gained both fame and notoriety when he refused to parade the regiment in front of the visiting Prince of Wales in reaction to the British response to the Irish Famine. He was placed under arrest. The charges were dropped after the bombardment of Fort Sumter and the beginning of the Civil War. The 69th was initially assigned to the Army of Virginia.

The Civil War

After the First Battle of Bull Run, the regiment, along with the Fire Zouaves, formed the rear-guard of the Union Army as it made its retreat towards Washington. Corcoran was captured during the battle. Thomas Francis Meagher, Captain of the regiment's Zouave company, was promoted to Colonel.

The 69th Infantry Regiment traces its history and lineage through three units which served during the Civil War, the 1st Regiment of the Irish Brigade (69th Infantry New York State Volunteers (NYSV) (1st Regiment of the Irish Brigade)), the 182d Infantry New York State Volunteers (69th Artillery, serving as infantry, the 1st Regiment of Corcoran's Legion) and the 69th National Guard Infantry (State Militia). Meagher proposed the creation of an Irish Brigade in which the 69th would form the first regiment. Meagher was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of the new brigade. The "Irish Brigade", then 3,000 strong, saw heavy action during the Seven Days battles.

At Malvern Hill, the 69th led the brigade in a charge against advancing Southern troops. The 69th forced the retreat of the famed Confederate Irish Regiment Louisiana Tigers, an event for which General Robert E. Lee gave the regiment its nickname, "The Fighting 69th". (Later, in both World War I and in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 69th and the Louisiana Tigers fought side by side against a common enemy). At Antietam, General Meagher personally led the 69th as the Irish Brigade charged the Sunken Road. The 69th, already badly mauled, suffered 60% casualties. The Irish Brigade was virtually destroyed at the Battle of Fredericksburg, suffering higher casualties than it had at Antietam. The day after the battle, the 69th was issued its famed "2nd Colors", one set of which were later given to the Irish Parliament by John F. Kennedy on the centennial of the battle. After Chancellorsville, only 300 men remained in the regiment. General Meagher resigned as commander of the Irish Brigade, stating that "the brigade ceased to exist." The 69th's commander, Patrick Kelly was named as the new commander of the brigade. At Gettysburg the regiment, vastly outnumbered, held the Wheatfield until it was overwhelmed.

Following Gettysburg, the Irish Brigade ceased to exist as a functioning unit and was disbanded in June 1864. The depleted ranks of the 69th Regiment was filled with new volunteers, as well as draftees from New Yorks Irish ghettoes. At the end of the summer of 1864, the 69th rejoined its Irish comrades as 1st Regiment of the 2nd Irish Brigade. The brigade served until the end of the war and was present at the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox. Out of more than 2,000 regiments that served with the Union Army, the 69th lost more men than all but six regiments.

Post Civil War

The regiment marched in the Washington, D.C. victory parade and returned to New York. All the regiments of the Irish Brigade were disbanded except the 69th, which remained part of the New York National Guard. The 69th remained a place of unity and culture for Irish Americans in the post war years. It was called into active service in 1898 for the Spanish American War, transported to Tampa Florida, but it did not see combat due to the brevity of that war. In 1916, the regiment was posted along the Mexican border during the Punitive expedition.

World War I

The outbreak of World War I saw a resurrection of the old spirit of the 69th. Its ranks were filled with many Irish-Americans and other New Yorkers, and it was sent over to France in 1918 as part of the American Expeditionary Force at the start of the German Spring Offensive. All National Guard regiments received new "100 series" regimental numbers at that time. The 69th was renumbered the 165th Infantry Regiment, but retained its Irish symbolism and spirit. It saw heavy combat with the 42nd "Rainbow" Division. Three of its members won the Medal of Honor, including its famed commander, William Joseph Donovan.

It also produced Father Francis Duffy, "The Fighting Chaplain". In heavy fighting during the Hundred Days Offensive, it looked as if the regiment was to be overrun in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Donovan gave Duffy grenades lest he be killed. Duffy refused, and unarmed, he continued to give last rites and help the wounded. Poet Joyce Kilmer was killed in the Second Battle of the Marne while a member of the regiment. One member of the Regiment killed in World War I was Daniel Buckley who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912.

The actual World War I exploits of the regiment formed the backdrop to the 1940 fictional movie The Fighting 69th. Father Duffy is memorialized in a statue at the north end of Times Square, which is technically "Duffy Square". World War II's Camp Kilmer was named for Joyce Kilmer and William Joseph Donovan went on to organize the OSS. An Advisor to the movie was former member Captain John T. Prout who had also been a Major General in the Irish Army.

Post World War I

When the original Regiment was federalized during the war, a new 69th Infantry Regiment was created in the New York State Guard. On 7 January 1921 the 165th Infantry Regiment was consolidated with the 69th Infantry, New York State Guard. The consolidated regiment was reorganised in the New York National Guard as the 69th Infantry Regiment.^[1]

World War II

The regiment, still designated the 165th Infantry, served with 27th Division (New York State's National Guard Division at the time) and was sent to the Pacific during World War II. The regiment served with distinction and landed at Makin Island, Saipan and Okinawa. Sgt. (then Pfc.) Alejandro R. Ruiz was awarded the Medal Of Honor for actions while serving with Able company of the regiment. One Battalion of the 69th Regiment served with the 42nd Infantry Division in Europe during World War II.

Operation Noble Eagle

From its armory at Lexington Avenue and 25th Street in midtown Manhattan, the 69th was one of the first military units to respond to the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Two members were killed during rescue operations, 1st Lieutenant Gerard Baptiste (FDNY) & Specialist Thomas Jurgens (NYS Courts). Following duty at the WTC, 200 soldiers were mobilized to protect the United States Military Academy, West Point, serving for 1 year. Numerous other members were on active duty providing protection to nuclear power plants, airports, bridges, tunnels, & trains throughout the New York area as part of Operation Noble Eagle.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

On May 15, 2004, it was Federalized for combat duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom, training at Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Irwin, California before deploying. The fighting 69th deployed to Iraq, as a battalion, under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Slack and Command Sergeant Major George Brett. The units of the Regiment performed combat patrols in Taji, Radwiniyah, and Baghdad. While in Baghdad the Regiment was responsible for the infamous "Route Irish", (the airport road) linking the "Green Zone" to BIAP airfield & Camp Victory and the surrounding Neighborhoods including al-Ameriyah. It has since returned from active duty in Iraq, the first time it has seen overseas combat since World War II.

19 members of the Regiment were Killed in Action, and over 78 were Wounded in Action during "Operation Wolfhound"^[2], named after the Irish Wolfhounds on its Regimental crest. A book entitled The Fighting 69th: One Remarkable National Guard Unit's Journey from Ground Zero to Baghdad, was written by (then) CPT Sean Flynn about the 69th's stateside duty following September 11, and its tour in Iraq.

On March 13, 2008 the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 991 (H.Res.991) recognizing the exceptional sacrifice of the 69th Infantry Regiment, known as the Fighting 69th, in support of the Global War on Terror. The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), and passed unanimously.

Operation Enduring Freedom

In 2008 approximately 300 soldiers from the 1/69th stayed in the fight and deployed to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Phoenix, attached to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Tributes

General Douglas MacArthur tribute to the 69th

General Douglas MacArthur, gave the following address to members and veterans of the 69th at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City via short-wave radio from Manila, The Philippines, on Jan. 24, 1940:

“

No greater fighting regiment has ever existed than the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Infantry of the Rainbow Division, formed from the old Sixty-ninth Regiment of New York. I cannot tell you how real and how sincere a pleasure I feel tonight in once more addressing the members of that famous unit. You need no eulogy from me or from any other man. You have written your own history and written it in red on your enemies' breast, but when I think of your patience under adversity , your courage under fire, and your modesty in victory, I am filled with an emotion of admiration I cannot express. You have carved your own statue upon the hearts of your people, you have built your own monument in the memory of your compatriots. One of the most outstanding characteristics of the regiment was its deep sense of religious responsibility, inculcated by one of my most beloved friends — Father Duffy. He gave you a code that embraces the highest moral laws, that will stand the test of any ethics or philosophies ever promulgated for the uplift of man. Its requirements are for the things that are right and its restraints are from the things that are wrong. The soldier, above all men, is required to perform the highest act of religious teaching — sacrifice. However horrible the results of war may be, the soldier who is called upon to offer and perchance to give his life for his country is the noblest development of mankind. No physical courage and no brute instincts can take the place of the divine annunciation and spiritual uplift which will alone sustain him. Father Duffy, on those bloody fields of France we all remember so well, taught the men of your regiment how to die that a nation might live — how to die unquestioning and uncomplaining, with faith in their hearts and the hope on their lips that we might go on to victory. Somewhere in your banquet hall tonight his noble spirit looks down to bless and guide you young soldiers on the narrow path marked with West Point's famous motto — duty, honor, country. We 'll hope that war will come to us no more. But if its red stream again engulf us, I want you to know that if my flag flies again, I shall hope to have you once more with me, once more to form the brilliant hues of what is lovingly, reverently called by men at arms, the Rainbow. May God be with you until we meet again.

”

President Kennedy tribute in the Irish Parliament

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy opened his address to Irish Parliament on June 28, 1963 with a moving tribute to the gallantry of the Fighting 69th, as follows:

“

The 13th day of December, 1862, will be a day long remembered in American history. At Fredericksburg, Virginia, thousands of men fought and died on one of the bloodiest battlefields of the American Civil War. One of the most brilliant stories of that day was written by a band of 1200 men who went into battle wearing a green sprig in their hats. They bore a proud heritage and a special courage, given to those who had long fought for the cause of freedom. I am referring, of course, to the Irish Brigade. General Robert E. Lee, the great military leader of the Southern Confederate Forces, said of this group of men after the battle, "The gallant stand which this bold brigade made on the heights of Fredericksburg is well known. Never were men so brave. They ennobled their race by their splendid gallantry on that desperate occasion. Their brilliant though hopeless assaults on our lines excited the hearty applause of our officers and soldiers." Of the 1200 men who took part in that assault, 280 survived the battle. The Irish Brigade was led into battle on that occasion by Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Meagher, who had participated in the unsuccessful Irish uprising of 1848, was captured by the British and sent in a prison ship to Australia from whence he finally came to America. In the fall of 1862, after serving with distinction and gallantry in some of the toughest fighting of this most bloody struggle, the Irish Brigade was presented with a new set of flags. In the city ceremony, the city chamberlain gave them the motto, "The Union, our Country, and Ireland forever." Their old ones having been torn to shreds in previous battles, Capt. Richard McGee took possession of these flags on December 2nd in New York City and arrived with them at the Battle of Fredericksburg and carried them in the battle. Today, in recognition of what these gallant Irishmen and what millions of other Irish have done for my country, and through the generosity of the "Fighting 69th," I would like to present one of these flags to the people of Ireland".

”

This flag is displayed in Leinster House, Dublin.

Ireland memorial

The Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg unveiled Ireland's national monument to the Fighting 69th on August 22, 2006 at Ballymote, County Sligo, the birth place of former Brigadier Michael Corcoran.^[3][4] The monument is a bronze column inscribed with scenes of Corcoran's life. Beside the gray, stone base is a small chamber set flush with the ground that contains a piece of steel from the World Trade Center donated by the parents of firefighter Michael Lynch, who perished in the attack.

Mayor Bloomberg in his remarks that day stated:

“

Brigadier General Michael Corcoran became one of the Civil War’s most revered heroes. When he returned to New York City after months of captivity in the South, enormous crowds thronged him in a parade up Broadway to New York’s City Hall. When he died, his body lay in state in our City Hall – just down the corridor from my desk – and people came from far and wide to pay their last respects. His successor as commander of the 69th was a fellow Irishman, the legendary Thomas Francis Meagher. At Meagher’s funeral mass in New York City, his eulogist said: “Never forget this: he gave all, lost all for the land of his birth. He risked all for the land of his adoption, was her true and loyal soldier, and in the end died in her service.’' So it could be said for much of the Irish Brigade. And although the 69th suffered terrible casualties in the Civil War, its tradition of valor – and its connection to Ireland – lived on. When the Fighting 69th was re-activated for World War I, about 95% of the men who joined the regiment were Irish. Their chaplain, Father Francis Duffy, said the rest of the men were “Irish by adoption, Irish by association, or Irish by conviction. Today, the 69th is as diverse as New York City itself – but Father Duffy’s words still hold true.

”

Medal of Honor Citations

Seven members of the 69th Regiment have been awarded the Medal Of Honor. Not only is this a high number for a National Guard regiment, all survived the actions in which they were awarded.

Peter Rafferty

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 69th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Malvern Hill, Va., 1 July 1862. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 2 August 1897.

Citation: Having been wounded and directed to the rear, declined to go, but continued in action, receiving several additional wounds, which resulted in his capture by the enemy and his total disability for military service.

Timothy Donoghue

Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 69th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Fredericksburg, Va., 13 December 1862. Entered service at:------. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 17 January 1894.

Citation: Voluntarily carried a wounded officer off the field from between the lines; while doing this he was himself wounded.

Keele, Joseph

Rank and organization: Sergeant Major, 182d New York Infantry. Place and date: At North Anna River, Va., 23 May 1864. Entered service at: Staten Island, N.Y. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 25 October 1867. Citation: Voluntarily and at the risk of his life carried orders to the brigade commander, which resulted in saving the works his regiment was defending.

Michael A. Donaldson

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 165th Infantry, 42d Division. Place and date: At Sommerance-Landres-et St. Georges Road, France, 14 October 1918. Entered service at: Haverstraw, N.Y. Born: 1884, Haverstraw, N.Y. G.O. No.: 9, W.D., 1923.

Citation: The advance of his regiment having been checked by intense machinegun fire of the enemy, who were entrenched on the crest of a hill before Landres-et St. Georges, his company retired to a sunken road to reorganize their position, leaving several of their number wounded near the enemy lines. Of his own volition, in broad daylight and under direct observation of the enemy and with utter disregard for his own safety, he advanced to the crest of the hill, rescued one of his wounded comrades, and returned under withering fire to his own lines, repeating his splendidly heroic act until he had brought in all the men, 6 in number.

William Joseph Donovan

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 165th Infantry, 42d Division. Place and date: Near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, 14-15 October 1918. Entered service at: Buffalo, N.Y. Born: 1 January 1883, Buffalo, N.Y. G.O., No.: 56, W.D., 1922.

Citation: Lt. Col. Donovan personally led the assaulting wave in an attack upon a very strongly organized position, and when our troops were suffering heavy casualties he encouraged all near him by his example, moving among his men in exposed positions, reorganizing decimated platoons, and accompanying them forward in attacks. When he was wounded in the leg by machine-gun bullets, he refused to be evacuated and continued with his unit until it withdrew to a less exposed position.

Richard W. O'Neill

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 165th Infantry, 42d Division. Place and date: On the Ourcq River, France, 30 July 1918. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: New York, N.Y. G.O. No.: 30, W.D., 1921.

Citation: In advance of an assaulting line, he attacked a detachment of about 25 of the enemy. In the ensuing hand-to-hand encounter he sustained pistol wounds, but heroically continued in the advance, during which he received additional wounds: but, with great physical effort, he remained in active command of his detachment. Being again wounded, he was forced by weakness and loss of blood to be evacuated, but insisted upon being taken first to the battalion commander in order to transmit to him valuable information relative to enemy positions and the disposition of our men.

Alejandro R. Renteria Ruiz

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 165th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division. Place and date: Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 28 April 1945. Entered service at: Carlsbad, N. Mex. Birth: Loving, N. Mex. G.O. No.: 60, 26 June 1946.

Citation: When his unit was stopped by a skillfully camouflaged enemy pillbox, he displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. His squad, suddenly brought under a hail of machinegun fire and a vicious grenade attack, was pinned down. Jumping to his feet, Pfc. Ruiz seized an automatic rifle and lunged through the flying grenades and rifle and automatic fire for the top of the emplacement. When an enemy soldier charged him, his rifle jammed. Undaunted, Pfc. Ruiz whirled on his assailant and clubbed him down. Then he ran back through bullets and grenades, seized more ammunition and another automatic rifle, and again made for the pillbox. Enemy fire now was concentrated on him, but he charged on, miraculously reaching the position, and in plain view he climbed to the top. Leaping from 1 opening to another, he sent burst after burst into the pillbox, killing 12 of the enemy and completely destroying the position. Pfc. Ruiz's heroic conduct, in the face of overwhelming odds, saved the lives of many comrades and eliminated an obstacle that long would have checked his unit's advance.

Traditions and Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (December 2007)

The name "The Fighting 69th" was bestowed on the regiment by none other than Robert E. Lee. When he asked what troops were facing his forces at Antietam on 17 September 1862, he was told the 69th New York. His reply was, "Ah, that fighting 69th."

New York City's famous St. Patrick's Day Parade up Fifth Avenue has always been led by the Regiment and it's Irish Wolfhounds.[1]

In some ceremonies, the regiment's officers and senior non-commissioned officers carry shillelaghs as a badge of rank.

The movie "The Fighting 69th" was shown at drills to all persons joining the regiment through the 1970s.

From 1993 to 1996, the regiment was reassigned to the Air Defense Artillery branch. After howls of protest from the unit and its veterans, it returned to its traditional Infantry roots in 1997.

In the 1960s, the New York Knicks' Cazzie Russell was a member of the regiment and wrote a sports column for the regimental newspaper.

The official regimental cocktail is made of two parts champagne and one part Irish whiskey. According to legend, the regimental commander, Thomas Francis Meagher, liked to drink his whiskey with Vichy water. But one day during the Civil War, when his aide was unable to find Vichy water, he returned with champagne. Meagher liked the new mixture, and the drink stuck.

Reportedly, Company A/1st Battalion is descended from the 8th Company of the 1st New York Regiment an American Revolutionary War Regiment.

The Boston based Celtic Punk band, Dropkick Murphys have a song on their album "The Gang's all Here" called the Fighting 69th, which is a tribute to the regiment.

The 2008 film Cloverfield depicts the 69th Infantry Regiment and other elements of the regular and reserve military doing battle with a giant monster in the streets of New York City.

The 69th Regiment Armory

The main armory on Lexington Avenue at 25th Street has the names of its Civil War Battles engraved on its front. A museum depicting history of the regiment is there and murals of the unit's past service adorn the mess rooms. Prior to the unit's realignment to Long Island, its secondary armory (Companies B & C) was on Northern Blvd. in Flushing.

On April 12, 1983, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the 69th Regiment Armory an official New York City landmark. The armory was also the 1913 scene of one of the first exhibits of Modern Art in the US, now simply referred to as the Armory Show. It was even depicted on a US postage stamp.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks the armory was used as an information and counseling center for the families of the victims of the attacks.

References

1. ^ http://www.sixtyninth.net/lineage.html
2. ^ 'The Fighting 69th' Makes History, Yet Again, www.thewildgeese.com, Retrieved 2007-1-28
3. ^ "Bloomberg unveils Sligo monument to Fighting 69th". The Irish Times. 2006-08-22. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/0823/1155714926246.html. 
4. ^ "Speech By John Perry TD at the Unveiling of Ireland’s National Monument to the Fighting 69th Regiment & Brigadier Michael Corcoran, Ballymote, Co. Sligo". Fine Gael. 2006-08-22. http://www.finegael.ie/fine-gael-news.cfm/year/2006/month/8/action/detail/newsid/28990/level/page/aid/10/. 

Remember Fontenoy!: the 69th New York and the Irish Brigade in the Civil War by Joseph G. Bilby, 1995.

Father Duffy’s Story, by Fr. Francis Patrick Duffy, George H. Doran Company, 1919.

A Doughboy with the Fighting 69th, by Albert M. and A. Churchill Ettinger, Simon & Schuster, 1992.

The Shamrock Battalion of the Rainbow: A Story of the Fighting Sixty-Ninth, by Martin J. Hogan, D. Appleton, 1919.

Wild Bill Donovan: The Last Hero, by Anthony Cave Brown, N.Y. Times Books, 1982.

Americans All, the Rainbow at War: The Official History of the 42nd Rainbow Division in the World War, by Henry J. Reilly, F.J. Heer, 1936.

Duffy's War: Fr. Francis Duffy, Wild Bill Donovan, and the Irish Fighting 69th in World War I by Stephen L. Harris, Potomac Books, 2006

The Fighting 69th: One Remarkable National Guard Unit's Journey from Ground Zero to Baghdad, by CPT. Sean Flynn, 2007.

External links

Current Unit

• The Fighting 69th Homepage
• 42nd Infantry homepage
• Rainbow Division Veterans Memorial Foundation
• Friends of the Fighting 69th
• Complete text and audio of John F. Kennedy's Address to the Irish Parliament from AmericanRhetoric.com

Historical Renactors & Civil War History

• SixtyNinth.Net
• Regimental History Site
• Fighting 69th Historical Association
• More of the Fighting 69th
• 69th Irish Renactors (CA)
• New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center - Civil War - 69th Infantry Regiment History, photographs, table of battles and casualties, monument at Gettysburg, historical sketch, and battle flag for the 69th New York Infantry Regiment.
• T. Moore of the 69th N.Y. (reference only)

Coordinates: 40°44′29″N 73°59′2″W / 40.74139°N 73.98389°W / 40.74139; -73.98389