American Guardsman REACTS: Irish Defense Force

[@AndrewFlynn-n5s]

My Uncle Tom Flynn was part of the Jadotville battalion 155 men strong who fought to the last bullet against over 3K Congo illegal fighters. Not one Irish Soldier died but they did in protecting themselves kill over 1.5k of these fighters. There amazing leaders negotiated their surrender in the hopes of keeping all their men alive. Connor Cruise O'Brien a member of the government in Ireland tried to sacrifice these men but when they came back to Ireland the disrespect they were shown was just disgusting. Only in the last 10 years where these brave men awarded their meddles of bravery and to this day are still being denied they meddles their battalion chief had recommended they receive. I had the honor of meeting a number of these amazing soldiers at their meddle ceremony many years after they came home and to a man they were just amazing and beautiful souls who put up with a lot of shit when they came home. As they reach the end of their lives I am proud to say I stood among giants on the day they proudly were acknowledged as the Irish hero's they are.

[@conorkelly947]

what's an illegal fighter?

[@eugenebuckley7657]

Well said sir 🙏

[@EdMc-yj2od]

@@conorkelly947 I know I know like in Palestine they are not allowed to have an army by Israel so they call them terrorists What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@EdMc-yj2od]

I grew up in Ireland and the only thing I heard of the Congo was that they got their assed kicked and were terrified and some of the men shit in their trousers same with the Michael Collins story that came out of thin air there was no mention of that in School such a good story you are bound to remember that after hearing it and I liked History I think the only thing said about him was he was opposed to the IRA and the Choctaw Indians another load of Bull

[@seanshatters]

@@EdMc-yj2od your lack of english only shows your ignorance

[@1968j]

I am honoured and proud to have served my country both at home and abroad 🇮🇪🇺🇳

[@conorkelly947]

I'm proud that you protected the opressed of the world, thanks

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

Thank you for your service.

[@oisinburke1989]

Stop at 2:19... My uncle, Peter Burke. ❤

[@1deccam]

Went right through school with Peter in the same class in Jamebo, Lovely bloke 👍

[@ralphkane2425]

I was on the youth committee in Bulfin at the same time. Knew him well, and his fiancé. Always think of him at his anniversary in October.

[@Clairerooney143]

Ah jesus tonight this makes ya so proud 🥲 to be irish and to all our fellow soldiers 🪖 thank u 🫡🫡 your amazing and keep up the hard work 💪 ya do!! Keep safe 🙏#keepthefaith ❤❤ 🇮🇪🇺🇳

[@kevinmcnamara3868]

My Uncle Kevin McNamara was at Jadotville.

[@djbillybopdjbillybop2817]

At 1.40 the Soldier with the Mustache is Patrick Quinlan an Irish Army officer who commanded the Irish UN force that fought at the Siege of Jadotville in Katanga in 1961 and surrendered when they ran out of ammunition and other supplies. Jamie Dornan played him in the movie The Siege of Jadotville Brilliant Movie.

[@raybenstead2548]

One of the very best films that i have watched.

[@damoncrowe9500]

Thank you for showing that video, my father served in the Congo in 1962, and yes, as small a nation as we are, we are very proud of being Peace Keepers

[@thequietman760]

My uncle Anthony Browne fell in the Congo. R.I.P Uncle Anto 🇮🇪☘️

[@larryoconnor7094]

Did you pick him up?

[@72mossy]

@@larryoconnor7094 Have a bit of respect, the man died serving his country, killed in the Niemba, my own Dad served out there as well but came home, a very hostile country towards them at the time. Have a bit of respect for the fallen.

[@darragh3407]

@@larryoconnor7094 shut up have some respect

[@garyhutton2654]

@@72mossy he's just a baiter forget him your from a hero's family ☘️

[@irishrebel374]

Was that while the Brits occupied the north of Ireland?.

[@TonyODonnell]

My father served in '62 in the Congo and long since retired it was a weekly occurrence that he would meet up with a couple of the lads, sometimes 2 or 3, other times 5 or 6 and all were out in the Congo and Cypress, the old stock, they had stories some were weird and wonderful and some that were tragic as most knew of lads that were killed while over there as was a good friend of mine killed in the Leb., early 90's, and its one of the reasons that Ireland is proud of it Defence Forces.

[@fmcm7715]

My uncle was a peacekeeper in Cyprus and in UNIFIL in the Lebanon before he retired. He was also one of the Irish cadets at JF Kennedys funeral!

[@stevendenny7260]

Wow... that was a massive recognition from American officialdom and the Kennedy Family to the Irish Cadets as the Honor Guard for JFK's graveside. I watched a documentary on it, and it was very heart moving.

[@fmcm7715]

@@stevendenny7260 it was his first time out of Ireland and first time on a plane too! They weren’t the original cadets who did the salute when JF Kennedy was visiting Ireland as that class had already passed out.

[@Vegan123]

Thanks for the memories - I served in the 49th and 53rd in Leb - best to my old comrades... 🇮🇪 🇺🇳

[@josephstokes2616]

So much to offer has the irish soldier in a modern time.👍

[@francesdoyle4957]

❤ Proud to be Irish. We give and give. My family to this day have family members still in service and still in our peace keeping serve nations across the world. Erin go bragh 👏🙏

[@cupofsugar]

My father Lt. Richard Joseph Fogarty of Bruff , Co. Limerick was a UN peacekeeper in the Congo in 1961. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam 🇮🇪🇺🇳

[@tonyacawley]

God bless ireland 🇮🇪 ❤

[@C00sanb0y]

Well done , thanks for sharing, fills me with pride for my country.

[@michaelbracken2521]

My own family served in the Congo in 1963 and Lebanon and other tours in Africa

[@jackieclarke8648]

My father paddy Delaney was I jadoville he was 9nly 18 years old I'm si proud of him

[@spreadeagle2561]

Irish soldiers have always been highly regarded and respected throughout history.

[@tconnolly9820]

Thank you for your very positive and sincere reaction to this video. This video was part of a campaign from Ireland to be elected for a two year term as a temporary member of the UN Security Council. There are only five permanent members of the Security Council who also have the power of veto to ignore any majority decisions they don't agree with and we all know who they are so nuff sed about that! Ireland was in competition with Canada and Norway. We won a seat and the two year term began on the 1st of January 2021. The campaign had three themes; empathy, partnership and independence. It was also heartening to listen to the positive words of the late JFK regarding the UN while he was addressing the Dàil (Irish parliament, Dàil {dawl} meaning "Assembly") These days, the UN seems to be much more widely disparaged. But it can only reflect the same integrity and commitment - or lack thereof, that it's own member nations bring into it's halls and chambers.

[@garyhutton2654]

I'm always fascinated by your videos , Ireland is now a very rich country and it still looks for peace in this our world that belongs to all of us ☘️

[@LaceyMQuigley]

Jfk really knew how to grab ur ear 🇮🇪

[@finbarrcoffey8059]

Just to let you know the Irish Soldiers have beening on Peace keeping duties in all parts of the world and haven't missed one Day in 6Oyrs of United Nations Peace Keeping Duties even as I Send this Information on the 12 of January 2023 they are in the Lebanon on Duties for Peace we are very proud of our Defence Forces in Ireland Finbarr coffey cork Ireland

[@avidpix]

Thank you for your reaction, as noted by many, we got our seat on the Council, and it’s with real pride that we can look back at our sixty plus years of contribution to maintaining peace is some of the most troubled regions of the World 🇮🇪

[@marykilgarriff2337]

Thank you for sharing this video. We are very proud of our peacekeepers. May all our troops who lost their lives in the line of duty with the United Nations find eternal rest Ireland 🇮🇪

[@Irish780]

Thank you for the uploading this and yes Ireland now is president of the European Council

[@TheDylls]

Canadian here: I feel like I can "brag" all day about our peacekeeping efforts... But the Seige of Jadotville was, I mean, basically a Call of Duty Campaign. Nearly unbelievable

[@Minime163]

Coming from the country that has the toughest un soilders in the world that go to the most hostile places in the world that's a real compliment.

[@72mossy]

My father served in the Congo with the 34th Battalion, very hostile out there towards the peacekeepers, he was out there between Jan to June 61.

[@judyodonoghue7715]

Such a contrast to hear president kennedy and to see what has happened in america today, a land with little hope under the control of a man you wants to remake in his orange image

[@tadhgflaherty2943]

You won't be hearing any grand speeches like that from Trump. It's horrifying to watch the decline of such a great nation at the hands of one of It's own. For a country of it's size and population, it's hard to believe the best they could do was elect a convicted criminal to be their President.

[@Daniel-p4b6y]

Thank you for the way in which you reviewed the video and waiting to speak until the end, it did it justice. They were so poorly equipped in the Congo and yet did a brilliant job, did you see the film that was made on the siege of jadotville, worth a watch. I served in lebanon in the 70s and 80s, when we first went in the rules of engagement were crazy, if fired upon we had to wait for permission from UN HQ before we could return fire. That remained until the battle of At Tiri, three of our men were murdered by the DFF, at that point we no longer required permission and the Irish showed them what they were made of, preventing a Muslim village from being slaughtered by the Christian DFF backed by the IDF and Israel. Dont get me wrong as many were murdered by the PLO, neither group had any value on life but then terrorists don't. The strangest thing, the PLO were backed by our own country men the IRA, who translated our tactics and intentions for the PLO and colluded in the killing of their country men.

[@marioncarroll8994]

What do you think of what is happening there today? We are not hearing here that I. O. F. are directly aiming at our pea.ce.keepers every day with im.pun.ity. They’ve had im.pun.ity so long, they don’t care about in.tl. l@w. Leb.an.ese. seem to back He.z.boll.ah more than the PLO, especially nowadays. I’d like to hear your thoughts of how it was then & any changes you’ve heard of. Thanks

[@darthvoidus66]

My granda and his 3 brothers served in Lebanon back in the 80s

[@Dilydaydream1]

Irish cadet soldiers were present at JFKs funeral by his widows personal request. My cousins wifes father was killed in the Congo. His body was never recovered and it was thought that was that the tribe was cannibalistic. Pte Peter Kelly. His wife was left with 3 children under 5 to raise. She never remarried and passed away 6 years ago.

[@toffee1889]

Some speech from Kennedy

[@josephinemonahan915]

Thank you for this…we have a Defence Force rather than an army

[@owenmccullagh3462]

@@josephinemonahan915 an army is a defence force and not all go and conquer the world but rather do what they have to do in order tv keep what’s their own but occasionally this may be showing the other fella who’s not a walkover so back up and pack up. So what’s the Irish army called an army if it’s not trained for war and killing and have shown others what they’re made up of and gained world respect going back centuries doing this. But then why are the Irish army treated like something you leave in the toilet by Irish politicsnd, police and lots of Irish citizens?. I should know - I served since I was very young got 32 years and more and never got the respect we should have got snd we still don’t. But it’s ok when you die and they put on a big show at your fuineral.

[@Truthbomb918]

We actually have an army, they are part of the defence forces along with the naval service and air corps

[@josephinemonahan915]

@ Fórsaí Cosanta…Óglaigh na hÉireann …Q.E.D….ar agaidh leat….beir bua agus slán 🌹

[@bigmartin]

We’re peace makers, we’ve no axe to grind with another nation. We don’t carry colonial baggage or have aggressive foreign policies.. Wherever we go we go in peace.

[@fitzstv8506]

Well said, you summed up the Irish nation in a couple of sentences.

[@bigmartin]

@@fitzstv8506 Cheers, thanks for that. I’ve served on a number of peacekeeping tours of duty, and I’m proud of my countries contributions to world peace

[@fitzstv8506]

@@bigmartin Fair play, you are among the best of us.

[@fitzstv8506]

@@akka5249 Please do enlighten us!.

[@fitzstv8506]

@@akka5249 An Irish United Nations peace keeping force helped prevent an nations independence....you sure have an interesting but flawed perspective.

[@davelamphier2709]

Proud to be Irish!

[@patrickporter1864]

The carlow armoured car built by thompsons on a ford chassis.

[@peter2385]

When the first Irish troops were sent to the Congo most had no idea where it was or even what the climate was like. They were sent in Bulls Wool heavy winter uniforms with WWII era weapons. It was not for some time that these improved. Now they have to contend with being deliberately attacked by Israeli forces who have always wanted all UN peacekeepers out of the Middle Ease so that they can have a free hand without witnesses.

[@The_Random_Drawing]

As an Irish, thanks for reacting.

[@fmcm7715]

What’s an Irish when it’s at home😂?

[@jimmccormack7507]

The best of the best 😊

[@howard51723]

Our military is one thing we can all be proud of

[@daviddanagher4392]

In tears

[@JoeFarrell-e3f]

I think the reason the Irish army over performs is because it is under resourced it has to improvise, that creates a mindset of thinking on your feet. It's also has the humility to watch, study and learn from the best military units from other countries. So what it does, it does very well.

[@Anrirua]

Agreed, that also extends to shrewd rollouts of near obsolescence gear such as weapons systems. eg the Steyr Aug, the Piranhas. By that, I mean that we acquire reliable field tested gear and thus have abetter rifle than the US or British soldier. A tried and tested system, no nonsense. This approach allows the Irish to be innovative with little budget. The Irish OPVs have what could be seenas oversized OTO Melara for this day and age. But again, this opens up.sea to land use and many other possibilities.

[@mydigicraftscrafts8649]

This made me cry wow!

[@bunyip5841]

Neutrality and peacekeeping are so important, especially now as the world becomes more volatile.

[@josephinemonahan915]

Great reaction...yes we did get our seat on the Security Council😊

[@cianbierd-hughes2153]

The Irish do not suffer bullies.

[@theresanolan1157]

Well..They are still alowing irish airspace and shannon airport to be used by the israeli defence forces carrying weapons.. complicit in the Genocide in Gaza...Free Palestine..No to genocide...Peace....

[@liamcronin5959]

We voted a government of bullies into power 😮

[@nnagildan8455]

Bwah ha ha. 😂😂😂😂 what do you think is happening in Ireland right now?

[@nnagildan8455]

@@theresanolan1157it’s embarrassing that you believe what a terrorist org like Hamas tells you. It’s embarrassing for you. If you felt embarrassed, which is probably a foreign emotion for you as you listen to and believe actual terrorist organisations.

[@moonpig16]

​@nnagildan8455 yeesh, is the theme embarrassed? Lol calm down ya clown

[@raymonddixon7603]

From Dublin Ireland. That armament on the wall in your living room would get you 10 years in the clinck here. No questions, no trial.

[@williebrophy5868]

typical Dub spouting lies

[@Truthbomb918]

Dramatic much?

[@eastcorkcheeses6448]

The ford armoured car at 1.36 ,is probably what saved the lads in jadotville, they had 2 , they werent very mobile off road , but they were armoured and had a vickers 303 in the turret/cupola , ( it doesnt show up in the movie )

[@Daniel-p4b6y]

Larryoconnor7094 No he didn't but I would be happy to put you down for him. What a sad individual, have you nothing better to do while you draw the dole.

[@Brandon2016.]

My grandad served in the navy

[@georgebarnes8163]

American navy?

[@juscoz3167]

You should react to the Irish army ranger wing (special forces)

[@Daniel-p4b6y]

He did and did a fantastic job on that as well

[@trevormatthews7981]

Thinking of the Irish UN troops who in Autumn 2024 are posted between Israel and Lebanon.

[@pjmoseley243]

Interesting how the Kennedy speech has been mixed in with modern pictures.

[@colmdevlin5340]

A very interesting video, thank you

[@bmc5075]

Our daught our sons misshim he died as he did with some of hisfriends in Eritrea i also was a soldier that ....

[@bustabloodvessel5327]

Of the 3,464 Medals of Honor awarded as of September 17, 2009, an estimated 2,021 (58%) have been awarded to Irish-American recipients, more than twice the number awarded any other ethnic group; 257 Irish-born Americans have received the Medal of Honor which represents more than half of foreign-born MOH recipients. The Irish military contribution to America is unmatched. Bearing in mind that Irelands population is tiny. JFK knew this as did many others and that is why there is so much respect for Irelands peacekeeping role.

[@christallon184]

Pal you have to watch "the siege of jadotvillie " if you want to see a great representation of irishis peace keepers in the congo

[@owenmccullagh3462]

The Irish have been taking part in world conflicts for as long as we have existed then there’s the big one against the English which sadly in my view seems to have another 400 years to go yet. The conflict over ownership and political rights over our own land is the longest currently active fight in the western world . Itstarted in about the year 1160. Pity they couldn’t just have left us alone - greed is an awful thing. Millions have died in the name of Ireland and its freedom- sadly.

[@georgebarnes8163]

Maybe the Irish should not have been invading Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and the Isle of Mann on their well documented slave trading days, Dublin in fact was the biggest slave trading port in the world. Practice what you preach and bear in mind that Ireland only closed its last slave laundry in Dublin in 1997, who are you going to blame for the Irish enslaving their own women and children then, no doubt someone else as you always do.

[@davebrowne8252]

Check out the Siege of Jadotville.

[@alanball6691]

The greatest challenge the Irish army has faced in decades is getting realistic levels of finance from the governments of the last thirty years.All areas are claimed to have benefited from the explosion of wealth in Ireland over the last 25 years, except the armed services. Morale is at its lowest ever, Numbers at their lowest ever in all arms of the forces. Army,Navy and air corp. These videos are churned out by successive governments in their hundreds claiming just how brilliant they, the government are, when in actual fact, they are a brazen group of greedy individuals who line their pockets at every chance. Project after project they rip the Irish taxpayer off. The port tunnel project, originally cost 380 million. Actual cost after several expensive redesign issues 850 million. The children's hospital in Dublin.Obviously the wrong location. Original estimate 800 million, currently at 2 billion plus with no realistic opening date. At least another 6/8 months at the earliest. A bike shed built to accommodate 18 bikes 338,000 euros ( I shit you not!) A security hut 1.4 million ( furniture not included) Irish soldiers rely on social welfare support to survive.Rent supplements , health care assistance etc. No person entering the Irish forces will ever be able to afford a home in the present market. They would not even qualify for a mortgage. These all praise government videos are a sham. The best men and women you could ask for and they are treated like throw away items. Pay them...Give them proper modern equipment. Support them properly instead of these stomach churning lip service videos. End of rant. Your reaction is seriously uninformed. Do your research.

[@tomkeegan3782]

Have you heard about The Siege of Jadotville?

[@aconsideredopinion7529]

The Irish government had deliberately undermined the defense forces of Ireland so that now they are effectively joke. Ireland is ostensibly amongst the richest countries in the world but the Irish Gove has consistently refused to invest in the Irish army.

[@classactsexpertiseandinspi4815]

There is always a troll lurking on any KZbin video that highlights Irish Achievement despite its lack of resources because Ireland still has to waste a significant amount of its resources coping with and protecting itself from the casual malevolence of successive British governments still occupying the 6 counties in the North of Ireland. Brexit was just the latest running sore sucking up resources.

[@theresanolan1157]

And the Navy....

[@georgebarnes8163]

always have been a joke

[@OldManRogers]

I have heard that in some African situations that they ask specifically for Irish peacekeepers since we have never invaded or colonised anywhere else (emigration aside!)

[@Patmofar]

3:47 Varadkar basking in the glory that rightfully belongs to the Irish Defence Forces while, at the same time, actively starving them of cash and even stooping to the lowest of lows by refusing to pay the soldiers even the national minimum wage, soldiers being the only Irish citizens that can be lawfully denied the minimum wage and who are also the only citizens who cannot complain about their working conditions or remuneration. What a brass necked two faced stunt.

[@alanmckenna1137]

I've 7 tours as an Irish peacekeeper . I then worked in Leinster house were I found the Oireachtas anti defence forces. I find the Irish population anti Irish defence forces & on retirement get zero help or assistance, nice words taking credit for soldiers U.N work but the praise is solely for those soldiers and not the people of Ireland who sing ' a soldering song ' but about a different type of army & soldier.

[@theresanolan1157]

Pity Leo had to show his head and talk waffle at the end A man hopelessly out of touch with the ordinary man and woman of Ireland...A Gombeen...as we say in ireland.

[@dooley-ch]

Pity you didn't take your own advice and avoid a bit of embarrassment......

[@shooster5884]

The reason that our military in Ireland is only allowed to fight in defence of the country and peacekeeping abroad... Is because for so many centuries we were occupied by a foreign country and it's military... We do not want to be involved in doing that to any other country..

[@josephhanratty3582]

Ireland was known as a land of poets and scholars before the British invaded almost a millennium ago. We had enjoyed hundreds of years of relative peace while mainland Europe tore each other to pieces. We've always just wanted peace

[@DebbieMinzly-en2nb]

Touches leaker .

[@conanclarke9308]

Unfortunately UN were not good at looking after Irish nationalists in northern Ireland. Where was the UN on bloody Sunday.

[@dooley-ch]

While it's land mass is small, the Irish national territory is bigger than Germany!

[@mylesdoyle381]

That is the key issue. Expand the defences to achieve what aim? The territorial area is enormous. So is expansion to defend that sea area?, to police it, to be a presence. No government can agree on the aim before considering the costs. Any affordable expansion will always leave gaps to be filled as today unofficially by the royal navy. Then the army and air corps, the island is small, therefore to defend the land you need overwhelming fire power (a bit like Israel). We simply can't and won't build to that level of land based capability. That leaves the NATO option which is practically a port on Ireland for the royal navy. No government will attempt that for historical reasons. So realistic expansion of any force is financially and politically impossible. If my opinion above is any way correct that leaves expansion to manage civil unrest internally. We simply don't need that - unrest would take the form of terrorism - that needs intelligence not tools and I think we are good there. That leaves veneer expansion or put another way "toys for the boys" which has no practical benefit to our defence. No agreed practical aim means no agreed practical expansion.

[@edwardmooney4328]

Should show Trump this

[@clionaclifford2214]

Pity varadkar is in this video, ruins it, 🙏💕🇮🇪

[@theresanolan1157]

Same...Shame

[@cjryan88]

my father wanted me to jion the irish army but i didnt they keep getting kidnapped so i join the british army

[@Shelldrake489]

So you joined an army that never lost a man through abduction ? Seriously, think about that before you reply !

[@WeeManSham]

I hear the pays better too! 30 peaces of silver!

[@moonpig16]

Ah yes the butchers. Off with ya, ya gobshite

[@seancunningham2935]

Loved it til varadkar came on

[@theresanolan1157]

absolutely...

[@eoinmurphy210]

Ireland says,FREE PALASTINE,-PEACE AND LOVE.

[@barbarag868]

You ignorant fool

[@snipelodgejake9648]

Congo was a different and noble era...bunch of embarrassing carrots now in unifil...

[@Shelldrake489]

Spoken like a true keyboard warrior.

[@Truthbomb918]

Says someone who has never been in uniform let alone in Lebanon