OBITUARIES Top Marine Bernard was US legend
A high ranking US Marine, author and American military journalist – with close family ties to New Ross – has been interred at Arlington Cemetery in America.
The interment of the late Lieutenant General Bernard E. Trainor took place with military honours at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia on December 13.
The final journey of Lt. Gen. Trainor to his resting place at Arlington Cemetery reflected the high esteem in which he was held by the Marine Corps.
With 175 Marines marching and cannons booming at five minute intervals, the funeral procession walked the final mile behind the caisson with the coffin and, poignantly, there was a riderless horse.
The flyover, in which four Marine aircraft flew low overhead from behind a hill and then ‘ broke formation’ with one soaring off into the sky, was symbolically very powerful.
Interestingly, throughout the graveside ceremony, there was an eagle in a tree nearby watching the entire event, never moving throughout the sounds of the 15 cannon volleys, the Osprey flyover, the 21 gun salute or the music of the USMC military band playing – after all of which the eagle flew away.
Lt. Gen. Michael Dana, Director of the Marine Corps Staff, described Lt. Gen. Trainor as ‘a great Marine and a great American. He was a legend…. and his positive impact on the Corps was significant’.
Trainor was born in New York in 1928. His maternal grandparents, from Ballinruane and Taylorstown, married and emigrated to America at the end of the 19th century.
At the end of World War 11 Trainor enlisted in the US Marine Corps where he was selected for officer training.
During his military career, spanning five decades, he served in the field of battle as a military strategist and as a military educationalist.
Recognition of his valour is evidenced by the number of military honours with which he was awarded, four campaign stars for Vietnam, three Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry and the Vietnamese Honours Medal.
Included among the other numerous decorations which he held for outstanding service to the Government of the United States, are the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and the United Nations Korea Medal.
In 2001 Trainor received the Presidential Unit Citation for Heroism.
Post retirement from the US Marine Corps, Trainor became military correspondent for The New York Times from 1986 to 1990. He also co-authored, with Michael Gordon, three highly-acclaimed books: The Generals’ War (1995), Cobra 11 (2006) and The Endgame (2012).
Trainor’s academic career was centred at Harvard University where he was director of the National Security Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government from 1990 to 1996. His eminent career has been recognised by The Foreign Policy Research Institute (Philadelphia), who in 2017, announced the launch of the inaugural Lt. Gen. Bernard E. Trainor USMC Veterans’ Fellowship.
The President of the Institute, Alan Luxenberg said: ‘ The Foreign Policy Research Institute could not be more delighted to host this fellowship named after an exceptional individual who so perfectly exemplifies its purpose.’
The induction, posthumously, of Lieutenant General Trainor into the Hall of Fame at the Dunbrody Famine Centre, New Ross, was held on September 7, 2018, only a few months following his death in June.
The induction ceremony was held on board the Dunbrody and was attended by three of his daughters, Kathleen, Theresa and Saxon, and sons-in-law, Mike and Eddie, all of whom travelled from the U.S. for the occasion.
They, along with Irish relatives, were warmly welcomed on board by Sean Connick, CEO of the JFK Trust, and by Dr Walter O’Leary, the trust’s chairman.
The induction speech, delivered by Sean Reidy, Chairman of The O’Neill Ancestral Trust and former CEO of the JFK Trust, referenced the many achievements of Lt. Gen. Trainor throughout his acclaimed military, academic and journalistic career, describing him as a worthy recipient of Hall of Fame recognition.
In his reply address on behalf of the Trainor family, Prof Mike O’Malley, son-in-law, spoke of how Bernard was deeply honoured by the proposed Hall of Fame recognition, commenting that ‘ his Irish heritage was never far from his mind: he would have wanted to dedicate this honour to his own ancestors, ordinary folks who like so many transplanted the native genius of Irish culture to America.’
Mike recalled how Bernard loved the Marines ‘partly because they were broadly democratic’ and added that Bernard – who had enlisted at the age of seventeen – rose to the very highest ranks through hard work, talent and commitment.
Prof O’Malley spoke of Bernard’s love of Irish history, citing the comparisons which Bernard had made between the reflections of Irish revolutionary Ernie O’Malley on the struggle for Irish independence with the universal struggle; the questions of ‘What is it we are fighting for?’ and ‘How do we engage in brutal acts and retain our humanity?’ Lt. Gen. Trainor made comparison with Korea and Vietnam, Iran and Afghanistan. As Prof. O’Malley said of Lt. Gen. Trainor, these questions ‘were central to his career, and he saw that the lessons of the Irish struggle were universal lessons, stories of local familial pain and struggle and epic world historical significance’.
Prof. O’Malley also referred to the Lt. General’s love of Irish culture, the country’s music, literature and sense of humour. It was appropriate then, and to the delight of guests attending the induction ceremony, that entertainment included Irish song – songs of emigration and songs sung in the Irish language. The well-chosen music and song of the afternoon resonated with the Trainor family as their father’s CD collection was full of ‘ the pure drop’ and the old tunes of Ireland.
A wonderful display of sean-nós dancing held the audience enraptured. The well-known and loved Irish comedian, Brendan Grace – who on the day was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, in recognition of his work both in Ireland and in the United States – added greatly to the Irish sense of fun and humour for Bernard’s family and all gathered.
Lt. Gen. Bernard Trainor is survived and sadly missed by his wife, Peggy, daughters Kathleen, Theresa, Saxon and Claire; his grandchildren; sonsin-law; nieces and nephews; also his sister-in-law, Celestine Trainor, wife of Bernard’s only sibling, the late Captain Joseph Trainor. He is fondly remembered by his US and Irish relatives and a wide circle of friends internationally.