Corporal Gallagher was born February 1, 1944, the second of nine children and was from from Derrintogher, near Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland. He moved to the US in 1962 to attend law school and enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1965.
Corporal Patrick “Bob” Gallagher was an Irish-born US Marine who served in Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in Vietnam.
He was awarded the Navy Cross for valor for saving the life of three Marines in July 1966. On March 30, 1967, Corporal Gallagher was killed while on patrol in Da Nang, Vietnam.
USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127) is a planned United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer is named in his honor.
The name Patrick Gallagher is inscribed on Panel 17E Line 71 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
From Military Hall of Honor:
Patrick Gallagher Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

Patrick Gallagher was born on 1 February 1944, the son of Peter and Mary Gallagher, Derringtogher, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on 5 November 1965 in New York City, NY. On 30 March 1967, Corporal Patrick Gallagher was serving with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd MARDIV (Rein) FMF, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
On that day, Corporal Gallagher was killed in action when he sustained wounds from small arms fire. His body was recovered.
Medals and Awards:
Navy Cross; Purple Heart; Combat Action Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal;
Navy Cross Citation:
For extraordinary heroism as an ammunition carrier in a machine-gun Team with Company H, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines near Cam Lo, Republic of Vietnam, in the early morning of 18 July 1966. The company was set in defensive positions at 0145, when enemy soldiers who had infiltrated the area threw a grenade into the position which Lance Corporal Gallagher and three other Marines were manning. Lance Corporal Gallagher, awake and displaying keen presence of mind, immediately kicked the grenade out of the position where it exploded at a safe distance. Another enemy grenade followed and landed in the position between two of his comrades. Without hesitation, in a valiant act of self-sacrifice, Lance Corporal Gallagher threw himself upon the deadly grenade in order to absorb the explosion and save the lives of his comrades. The other three Marines moved to safety while two other grenades landed in the position and exploded, miraculously injuring no one. Lance Corporal Gallagher's Squad Leader then ordered him to throw the grenade into the nearby river where it exploded upon hitting the water. Through his extraordinary heroism and inspiring valor in the face of almost certain death, he saved his comrades from probable injury and possible loss of life. His daring actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Honors
● The name Patrick Gallagher is inscribed on Panel 17E Line 71 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
● On 12 March 2018, Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer named the next Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in honor of Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and Navy Cross recipient Cpl Patrick Gallagher. The USS Gallagher DDG-127, the newest of the US Navy's Guided Missile Destroyers, will be built in the next 4+/- years! The ship will be constructed at Bath Iron Works, a division of General Dynamics in Maine. The ship will be 509 feet long, have a beam length of 59 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 30 knots. It is expected to enter service following completion and sea trials in 2024.
Burial:
Corporal Patrick Gallagher is buried at Ballyhaunis Cemetery in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland