Moves are under way in Ballinrobe to erect a memorial in honour of John King, a Mayo man who was awarded two Congressional Medals of Honour for his service to the American navy.
The John King Association already exists in America and this will be the first time the US marine will be honoured in his home town.
John King was born in 1865, migrated to the United States as a young man, and enlisted in the navy in 1893. He served first in USS Vicksburg and toiled in the boiler rooms of 13 naval vessels. He served in two more ships before he was discharged in 1916. In April of 1917, with the outbreak of World War I, John King was recalled by the war department. He added two more years to his already long career at the navy receiving station in New York City. He received his final discharge in 1919, and was added to the navy retirement list in 1926.
At Ballinrobe’s electoral area committee meeting on Monday Peter Costello, Gerry Delaney and Ann Reid (a grand niece of John King ) outlined details of the full size statute they wish to have erected in the Cornmarket.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Damian Ryan said he supported the project and said Mayo County Council should financially support it. Cllr Patsy O’Brien also agreed that the late John King should be remembered.
