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BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS BY ARMN NEVILLE COUGHLAN
Fallen Hero Honoured O
n the 30 Aug 2011, a lecture room in Cathal Brugha Bks was named in honour of a fallen colleague of the staff of the 2 E BTC. The Pri- vate Killeen Lecture Room, located in 'B' block on the main square.
Pte 810242 Gerard Killeen joined the Defence forces in Feb 1952, after serv- ing 6yrs in the 2 Inf Bn, he then transferred to the CTD E (now 2 E BTC) on his qualifying as a cook, this was following in his fathers footsteps. In Aug 1960, Pte Killeen was deployed overseas to the Congo as a Peace
Keeper with 'A' Coy, 33 Inf Bn. As part of a 706 strong Bn with the newly founded UN mission ONUC (l'Opération des Nations Uniesau Congo). The Congo was only granted independence on 30 Jun 1960, after almost a cen- tury of Belgian rule. This was the first armed overseas mission undertaken by the Defence Force since the foundation of the state. Pte Killeen was killed on the 8 Nov 1960 at
a river crossing near the village of Niemba in Katanga, when an eleven-man Irish patrol was ambushed by Baluba tribesmen. This was, and still remains, the greatest loss of life for the Defence Forces in a single incident overseas. Pte Gerard Killeen was posthumously awarded An Réalt Míleata - The Military Star.
The Killeen Room Group: Standing Back Row: Sgt Cole, Cpl Mc Guinness, Capt Freely, CQMS Pender, Cpl McDonagh, Sgt Tuite, Coy Sgt Masterson, Sgt Pearse, Lt Ryan, Lt Whelan, Capt Curtis. Sitting Front Row: Coy Sgt John de Lacy (Retd), Mrs Catherine Homan (Wife), Comdt Maureen O'Brien OC 2 E BTC, Mr Gerard Killeen (Son) and Col JJ O'Reilly (EO 2 E Bde)
THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE
