The Americans in Ulster during World War Two.

A few minutes before 8am on Sunday 7^th December 1941, Japanese aeroplanes struck America’s biggest naval base, Pearl Harbour. President Roosevelt called it an " act of infamy " and declared war on Japan. The USA were now involved in the war. America’s involvement was to have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the war, but it was also to have a serious effect on the lives of thousands of people in County Down.

On the 30^th of July 1942, Kilkeel RAF station, as it was then known, was officially opened, five months after construction had begun. Over the next year the aerodrome proved invaluable as a stop over facility for aircraft on their way to and from Britain. It was also used as an emergency runway. Another important role played by Greencastle was that of a training school for air-crews, newly arrived from the US.

http://www.ulster.ac.uk/thisisland/modules/ww2/experiences.html

PHOTO GALLERY OF GREENCASTLE AIRFIELD

http://worldwar2airfields.fotopic.net/p32701867.html
 

THOMPSON, JOSEPH H.

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, 110th Infantry, 28th Division. Place and date: Near Apremont, France, 1 October 1918. Entered service at: Beaver Falls, Pa. Born: 26 September 1871, Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland. G.O. No.: 21, W.D., 1925. Citation: Counterattacked by 2 regiments of the enemy, Maj. Thompson encouraged his battalion in the front line of constantly braving the hazardous fire of machineguns and artillery. His courage was mainly responsible for the heavy repulse of the enemy. Later in the action, when the advance of his assaulting companies was held up by fire from a hostile machinegun nest and all but 1 of the 6 assaulting tanks were disabled, Maj. Thompson, with great gallantry and coolness, rushed forward on foot 3 separate times in advance of the assaulting line, under heavy machinegun and antitank-gun fire, and led the 1 remaining tank to within a few yards of the enemy machinegun nest, which succeeded in reducing it, thereby making it possible for the infantry to advance.

Members of the armed forces killed on duty since World War Two

Searches of the Roll of Honor which provides information up to 31 December 2006, can be performed at:

http://www.forcesmemorial.org.uk/roll-of-honour.asp

http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL1264245020071012

The head of a County Down firm which constructed a new memorial to the armed forces in Staffordshire has spoken of his pride at its completion. McConnell and Sons of Kilkeel built a £6m stone circle and engraved on it the names of 16,000 service personnel.  It honors thousands killed in combat and training since World War II, as well as those killed in the Troubles.