Irish soldier who died serving with UN to be honoured 25 years after his death
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An Irish soldier who died heroically saving 11 comrades while serving with the UN in South Lebanon is finally to be honoured 25 years after his death.
A campaign was set up last July to have Private Billy Kedian's gallantry recognised, especially after another soldier buried in the same Co Mayo graveyard had been honoured by the US.
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin has written to members of Pte Kedian’s family saying that following a review of the case it had been decided to award him a posthumous 'DSM (Distinguished Service Medal) with Honour' for the 21-year-old’s actions on May 31, 1999.
Mr Martin said the citation will read that "despite great personal risk and while his post was under fire, (he) alerted fellow peacekeepers to the dangerous situation and directed them to a place of safety. His selfless actions and devotion to duty placed him in danger and resulted in his death".
Private Kedian died when hit by shrapnel from an 81mm mortar fired into his post by the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army (SLA) who were engaged in fighting with the militant group Hezbollah.
Shortly after his death Pte Kedian’s former commander and colleagues from his unit made a recommendation that he be awarded a posthumous Bonn Míleata Calmachta (Military Medal for Gallantry).
The delay in awarding a posthumous honour to Pte Kedian is in stark contrast to another Ballyhaunis native, Patrick Gallagher. Both are buried in the same graveyard in Ballyhaunis, less than 100 metres apart.
Gallagher joined the US Marines and fought in the Vietnam War. On July 18, 1966, the then 23-year-old Lance Corporal jumped on a grenade thrown into his post in South Vietnam by the enemy in order to save the lives of two of his comrades.
Miraculously, it did not explode and Gallagher threw it out of harm’s way.
For his heroic actions that day Gallagher was awarded the prestigious Navy Cross by the US military. He subsequently died on March 30, 1967, at DaLoc near De Nang and is one of only 30 known Irish citizens to have died in the Vietnam War.
Such was Gallagher’s heroic status, the US Navy recently named their latest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Patrick Gallagher in his honour. It's expected to enter service shortly.