Kevin Barry

Kevin Barry

(1902 – 1920)

Kevin Barry was the First Irish Republican to be executed by the British since the Easter uprising of 1916 in Ireland. His execution caused outrage in Irish opinion and brought the tension to a fever pitch. His execution also precipitated a dramatic increase in violence as the Irish War for Independence entered its most bloody phase. His refusal to talk(despite torture) made him one of the most celebrated Irish Republicans. He is also known as one of the “Forgotten Ten”, a group of Irish republicans executed by the British in 1920-21.

He was only 18 years old.

He was originally buried in a plot at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, but all ten are now in Glasnevin Prison. They were given a state funeral in 2001.

Trivia:

There is a bar called “Kevin Barry’s” named after him in Savannah GA.

Alvin York

Alvin York

(1887 – 1964)

Alvin Cullum York is someone to know about, if you don’t already….. One of the most decorated soldiers of WW1, he lead an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 guns, killing 20 german soldiers, and capturing 132 others. The heroism occurred

during the Meuse-Argonne offensive in France. Originally a Pacifist, he was finally convinced that God meant for him to fight and would keep him safe. He was Corporal York when he performed his Medal Of Honor winning feats, and was Promoted to Sergeant after the action. That is how he is remembered today, as Sgt. York. There was a well known Hollywood classic movie about him made in 1941 starring Gary Cooper(He won the Oscar for best actor). Check out the medals, awards, buildings named for him, and honors if you get a chance, unreal for a man a lot of people don’t know about today…….. He is buried in the Wolf River Cemetery in Pall Mall ,Tennessee.

Trivia:

Alvin York was 30 when he became a hero. Gary Cooper was 40 when he won an Oscar playing him.

Chris Kyle

Chris Kyle

 (1974 – 2013)

Christopher Scott Kyle was a United States Navy Seal and the most lethal sniper in the history of the U.S. Military with 160 confirmed kills, and another 95 “probable” kills. His autobiography, “American Sniper” was made into an incredibly powerful movie starring Bradley Cooper. After four tours of duty, being shot twice, and surviving six separate IED explosions, he was killed by a Marine Corps Veteran with PTSD that he and a friend were trying to help.

He is buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas

Trivia:

Kyle stated that he would rather talk about the lives he saved, not the lives he took.

The enemy at one time had an $80,000 bounty on his head.

Reportedly his most successful shot came in 2008 when he killed an insurgent from 2100 yards(That’s 1.2 miles, folks)

The Red Baron (Manfred von Richthofen)

The Red Baron

Manfred von Richthofen

(1892 – 1918)

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, widely known as the Red Baron, I could write a book about him….. A german fighter pilot in WW 1, he is considered the top ace of the war, being officially credited with 80 combat victories, and of course, always the reports of unconfirmed kills. He was the leader of Jasta 2 squadron, and later the larger unit Jagdgeschwader 1 (Better know as the “Flying Circus”).

This man was born to be a legend- the closest to him in WW 1 was Frenchman Rene Fonck, with 75 confirmed kills and several more estimated but unconfirmed. The highest scoring British ace was Billy Bishop with 72 victories. He was a national hero, and had controversy to the end. When he was finally shot down, The Canadians say that Their pilot Arthur “Roy” Brown shot him down, while the Australians claim they did the deed from the ground. Studies and controversy continue to this day. In an act of chivalry from a bygone era, the allies buried him with full military honors. He was originally buried in the cemetery at the village of Bertangles, near Amiens. In the early twenties The French created a military cemetery at Fricourt, and he was reinterred there. In 1925 he was brought home to Germany, to the Invalidenfriedhof Cemetery in Berlin. During the Cold War, this cemetery was on the boundary of the Soviet Zone, and he finally was moved to the family plot at the Sudfriedof in Wiesbaden, being buried next to his brother and sister.

Trivia:

His brother Lothar had 40 victories himself in WW 1

Salvatore Guliano

Salvatore Giuliano

( 1922 – 1950 )

“Turiddu” was his nickname, and he was a Sicilian bandit and folk figure. His life has a lot of mystery because of all of the misinformation, but it is still an awesome story. If you have ever read “The Godfather” novel, you’ll know what a masterpiece it is. Somehow, Mario Puzo wove the story of Salvatore Giuliano into the part where Michael Corleone hides in Sicily. It is as good a read, if not better, than the original Godfather novel.(My opinion anyway!). He is a legend in Sicily, a tragic story of idealism and desperation, even more interesting because he was betrayed and killed(Officially by Law enforcement, widely believed to have been killed by his best friend and cousin Gaspare Pisciotta, pictured with him) when he was only 27.

He is buried in the Comune di Montelepre Cimitero Comunale

Montelepre, Sicily

Michael Collins

Michael Collins

( 1890 – 1922 )

“Mick” Collins was an Irish Revolutionary, He is  a major, major figure in Irish History. He took part in the Easter Uprising of 1916, was Minister for Home Affairs in 1918, and for Finance from 1918 to 1922.

He was also Commander in Chief of the Irish Government forces during the Irish Civil War. Collins was murdered in an ambush in County Cork, and with all of the treachery going on, no one is sure exactly who ordered his death. There is a really good movie starring Liam Neeson about Michael Collins, if you get a chance to watch.

He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland.

Trivia:

Kevin Barry, another Irish freedom fighter, is buried close to Collins. He was hanged in Dublin with others when he was only 18 years old. There is a pub in Savannah, Ga. named for him, and if you get the chance to go there, it’s like a little piece of Ireland…….

Alan Seeger

Alan Seeger

(1888 – 1916)

One of the Lost Poets of the Great War(WW l), Alan Seeger volunteered and fought for the French and was killed before the United States entered the war. He fought simply because he thought it was the right thing to do.His poem “Rendezvous” is one of my favorite poems. His other ones are good too, but this one is incredible.

His nephew is Folk Singer Pete Seeger, a legend in his own right.

For a while during the war, his grave was unknown, but in the Twenties it was discovered that he is buried at No. 1 Ossuaire, Lihons, France .

Trivia:

The other “Lost” Poets:

Rupert Brooke

Wilfred Owen

Isaac Rosenberg

Edward Thomas

John McCrae

(McCrae wrote another great poem, “In Flander’s Fields”)