Joseph Murtagh

Rank:	Ensign (temporary)
Street:	348, 60th Street
Townland:
Town/Village:	Brooklyn, New York
Civil Parish:
Catholic Parish:
Country:	U.S.A.
Alternative Address:	Co. Longford
Census 1901:
Census 1911:
Regiment/Unit:	U.S. Navy,
Regiment Number:	444084; [1444084]
Date of Death:
Cause:	Unknown
Memorial:
Information:	Joseph was born in County Longford, he gave his date of birth on enlistment as the 19 February 1882, although this may be inaccurate. He later emigrated to the United States, likely before 1900. Joseph enlisted initially with the US Navy in April 1900 for a period of four years during the Philippine-American War (known as the Philippine Insurrection in the US at the time). Joseph completed his first service at the end of March 1904 but reenlisted for further service a few months later. By 1918 had an address in Brooklyn, New York, possibly a family member's. He began war service with the US Navy at the beginning of March 1918, and was given the rank of Ensign. In September of the same year, he was awarded the rank of Lieutenant (Temporary). Joseph served on the USS Vestal a repair ship for the US Navy; interestingly she was deployed to Queenstown (now Cobh, Co. Cork), for the duration of WW1 returning to the USA in 1919. Joseph was transferred to the US Navy Reserved in February 1922.
Parents Names:	Unknown
Notes:	Fold 3 extracts of service (paid subscription site); Possibly also known as James Joseph Murtagh born May 1882, who emigrated with his wife in 1906.
Links:	Fold3 extracts of service, NY US Army (paid subscription site); Ancestry.co.uk Spanish-American War military excerpts (paid subscription site)