Patrick Joseph Walsh

Patrick Joseph Walsh (1908–1942) was a United States Navy officer killed in action during World War II who received the Silver Star posthumously for his actions.

Biography

He was born in New York City on 19 January 1908. He accepted a commission in the United States Naval Reserve as a lieutenant, junior grade, on 4 May 1942. He received instruction at the Naval Training School, Boston, Massachusetts, and later received more specialized training at the Armed Guard School at Little Creek, Virginia, from 16 June 1942 to 22 July 1942.

Walsh was Naval Armed Guard detachment commander aboard the merchant ship SS Patrick J. Hurley in the North Atlantic Ocean on the night of 12 September 1942 when the German submarine U-512 stealthily surfaced and closed Patrick J. Hurley. Undetected, U-512 opened fire on Patrick J. Hurley with devastating effect. Walsh fell severely wounded in the initial shelling, taking shrapnel in the throat. In spite of the withering German machine-gun fire directed at his battle station on Patrick J. Hurley's bridge, Walsh remained at his post, though weak from loss of blood. He died of his wounds.

Awards

For displaying selfless gallantry in battle, Walsh was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star posthumously.

•   Silver Star
•   Purple Heart

Namesake

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Walsh (DE-601) was named for Lieutenant, junior grade, Walsh. She was converted during construction into the high-speed transport USS Walsh (APD-111), and was in commission as such from 1945 to 1946.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.