Born in Coolikerane, Millstreet on the 29th of September 1929, John Corcoran emigrated to the United States, and settled in Lafayette Parish in Louisana where his uncle resided.
He was one of only a few who volunteered for military service, whence he became Private First Class Corcoran, a member of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.
On a day when many were wounded or killed, he was seriously wounded by enemy mortars while fighting on September 24, 1950, as the 32nd attempted to create a bridgehead on the opposite side of the Han River close to Soeul in South Korea. John was wounded when he instinctively and nobly used his body to protect his injured friend and comerade Paul Oliver. He died of his wounds on October 2, 1950 in Osaka Hospital, Japan.
He was laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish Louisiana, USA (see photos below). Paul Olivier whose life he saved continued to maintain John’s tomb in Lafayette, but Paul himself passed away recently – December 9th 2014, so one wonders if it is maintained anymore but it is still being maintained beautifully (see photos below). [read more …] “John (Jack) Corcoran – killed in the Korean War”
