IA

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 112

To designate May 13, 1994, as ‘‘Irish Brigade—Marine Day’’.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 17, 1993

Mr. FISH introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

JOINT RESOLUTION

To designate May 13, 1994, as ‘‘Irish Brigade—Marine

Day’’.

Whereas the United States of America is a Nation of immigrants and the contributions of Irish immigrants, and

their descendants to the defense of the public liberty has

been a hallmark of Irish Americans;

Whereas officers and men of the Irish Brigade in the service

of France volunteered to fight for American liberty as

early as 1776, over two years before the entry of France

into our War for Independence; many were later recruited by Benjamin Franklin;
2

•HJ 112 IH

Whereas the Irish Brigade fought for American liberty in our

War for Independence at Savannah, Georgia; and Irish

troops of the Regiments of Dillon and Walsh of the Irish

Brigade at Gloucester Point, Virginia, under Count Arthur Dillon of the Legion of Lauzun in the Army of Rochambeau, closed the ring around Cornwallis at Yorktown, thus assuring victory for Washington and independence for the United States;

Whereas the predominantly Irish Thompson Battalion of

Pennsylvania become the keystone of Washington’s Continental Army and under Anthony Wayne, the Infantry

Line of Pennsylvania was known as ‘the Line of Ireland’

and, a significant portion of the Continental/Revolutionary forces were Irish including Richard Montgomery,

Jeremiah O’Brien, Timothy Murphy, John Barry, Stephen Moylan and John Sullivan;

Whereas the honor roll of Irish-American Marines extends

throughout the entire history of the United States Marine Corps, from 10 November 1775 to the present, including such names as Thomas Murphy, Maurice

O’Connell, Daniel Carmick, Presley Neville O’Bannon,

Charles G. McCawley, John Rannahan, Dan Daly, Edward R. Murphy, Raymond Davis, Robert Emmett

O’Malley, Martin Brandtner, P.X. Kelly, Michael Ryan,

Paddy Collins and Al Gray;

Whereas 137 men of the Regiment of Walsh of the Irish Brigade, with their officers, Eugene MacCarthy, Edward

Stack and James O’Kelly, who volunteered to serve as

American Continental Marines with John Paul Jones on

the BONHOMME RICHARD, were inducted into the

Marines on 13 May 1779 at L’Orient, France, and were
3

•HJ 112 IH

reviewed by John Adams, American Commissioner to

France, on that date;

Whereas the induction of these members of the Irish Brigade

into the American Continental Marines is shown in the

painting, ‘‘JOHN ADAMS REVIEWS JONES’ MARINES, 13 MAY 1779’’ by Colonel Charles Waterhouse,

USMCR, Artist in Residence of the United States Marine

Corps, and is recorded in the Diary of John Adams and

in Marines in the Revolution by Charles Richard Smith;

Whereas the Marines on the BONHOMME RICHARD carried the war to the enemy’s shores and, in action against

the HMS SERAPIS and HMS COUNTESS OF

SCARBOROUGH off Flamborough Head on 23 September 1779, so distinguished themselves in battle as to have

made possible the action which rendered the HMS

SERAPIS unable to continue the contest, one of the

most desperate and bloody battles in American naval history;

Whereas indeed did the Irish Brigade volunteers on the

BONHOMME RICHARD proved themselves worthy of

the tribute to the Irish brigade as ‘‘Semper et ubique

Fidelis’’ -- Always and everywhere Faithful, while, at the

same time, earning their right to the motto ‘‘SEMPER

FIDELIS’’ as American Marines;

Whereas the Leatherneck Scholarship Fund has chosen the

print by Colonel Charles Warehouse, ‘‘JOHN ADAMS

REVIEWS JONES’ MARINES, 13 MAY 1779’’ to illustrate the tradition of service and sacrifice which inspired

the scholarships dedicated to the memory of Captain

Manuel Rivera, United States Marine Corps and Major

Eugene McCarthy, United States Marine Corps Reserve,
4

•HJ 112 IH

two naval aviators killed in action during OPERATION

DESERT STORM; and

Whereas Irish Americans continue the tradition of honorable

military service in defense of the United States: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That, May 13, 1994, is designated as ‘‘Irish Brigade Ma4 rines Day’’ and the President of the United States is au5 thorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling

6 upon the people of the United States to observe such day

7 with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Æ