Irish-born soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam were honoured for the first time in a ceremony commemorating American dead, at the Vietnam Wall memorial. It was part of the annual Veterans' Day ceremonies.
Two Irish veterans of the war, Mr John Barry from Co Kerry, and Mr Willie Lyons from Co Waterford, laid a wreath with Irish colours in honour of the 12 known Irish-born servicemen who were killed in that conflict. Their names are inscribed on the Wall among the 58,214 who died.
Further research is taking place to establish how many more of the estimated 3,000 Irish citizens serving in Vietnam were killed. Irishmen who emigrated to the US in the 1950s and 1960s would have been eligible for the draft, but would in most cases have given American addresses so it is difficult for researchers to track down all those who were born in Ireland among the names on the Wall.
A half-size replica of the Wall some 250 feet long and with all the names inscribed on it will tour Ireland next year.
The Coalition of Irish Immigrant Centres in the US said in a statement that it was time that those who served as "permanent residents" or "Americans by choice" be honoured by their own on Veterans' Day.