PFC PATRICK J. GALLAGHER

19TH INFANTRY REGIMENT

K CO 3 BN

24TH INFANTRY DIVISION

ARMY

HOSTILE, DIED (KIA)

DATE OF LOSS: MARCH 7, 1951

SERVICE NUMBER: ER57221171

YEAR OF BIRTH: 1929

HOME OR PLACE OF ENLISTMENT

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA

LOCATION OR BATTLE ZONE: 38TH PARALLEL

Comments: Private First Class Gallagher was a
member of the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry
Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the
enemy in South Korea on March 7, 1951.
His family knew him as "Pat."

Information copied from Korean War Project.

The April 5, 1951 edition of the Brookline Journal carried a notice of PFC Patrick Gallagher's passing, along with a short article. The text is reprinted here:

Brookline GI Killed In Korea

After sending his last pay home to buy a high school class ring for his kid sister, a young Brookline GI met his death in battle in Korea.

Pfc. Patrick J. Gallagher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Gallagher, 206 Bodkin Street, told his family to see that his sister Marilyn, 17, a junior at South Hills High School, got her class ring. He also asked that they use some of the money to buy a gift for his favorite nephew, one-year old James Gorman.

An Army reservist who had previously served a year on active duty, the 21-year old soldier was called to active duty again last October. Sandlot baseball was Pfc. Gallagher's favorite sport and he played for the Brookline American Legion team after graduating from South Hills High School.

His last letter home, written two days before he was killed, reported:

"We have just left rest camp and are headed toward the 38th Parallel. General MacArthur has promised us a surprise when we get there."

Pfc. Gallagher had injured his hand about a month ago while operating a gun but soon went back to duty, his family reported. He also suffered frostbitten feet during the severe Korean winter.