Father O'Flaherty

Father Colman O'Flaherty

Father O'Flaherty is not related to us, but he held much prestige and honor in both Smith and Ryan sides of our family. Each family saved artifacts about this man. The Ryans saved news articles, and the Smiths saved old letters about this priest's death in World War I. Colman O'Flaherty was another son of the old sod born in County Galway. Trained in France (Lyons) and Canada (Montreal), Father O'Flaherty was ordained in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Shortly after his ordination he was assigned to Kimball, South Dakota, as their parish priest. He was admired for his energy and religious devotion.

O'Flaherty was the first pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell, South Dakota, and enlisted in the military shortly after U.S. declared war against Germany. He was killed ministering a wounded soldier during the battle of Argonne, just weeks prior to the end of hostilities. For his bravery, Father O'Flaherty was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. "Irish" John Smith would have admired O'Flaherty for his bravery in the face of battle and sure death.

The following snippet about Father O'Flaherty is found in the book, Father Duffy's Story: A Tale of Humor and Heroism, of Life and Death with the Fighting Sixty-Ninth, by Francis Patrick Duffy; George H. Doran company, 1919, page 285:

"On October 12th I was in Jim Mangan's little dugout at Exermont with his Lieutenants Joe McNamara, McCarty and Flynn when in walked Dennis O'Shea, formerly our color sergeant, and now a Lieutenant in the 1st Division. Accompanying him was Father Terence King, a Jesuit Chaplain. They had detailed for the task of burying their regimental dead. It was a joyous meeting, but they had one thing to tell me that made me sad. Father Colman O'Flaherty had been killed by shell fire while attending to the wounded. I had never met him, but when we were alongside of the 1st after Saint Mihiel I met a large number of officers and men, all of whom spoke of him with affectionate admiration. An Irishman, well read, brilliant and witty in conversation, independent in the expression of his opinions; sometimes irritating at first encounter by reason of his sallies, but always sure in the long run to be admired for his robust and attractive personality.”

The following biography is found in the on-line encyclopedia, Wikipedia:

Rev. Colman E. O'Flaherty (1874–1918), was an Irish born American recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross during World War I.

O'Flaherty was born in Carraroe, Ireland on April 24, 1878. He received his early education in Ireland and continued his studies at Lyons, France where he became fluent in French and at Montreal, Canada. He was ordained at Sioux Falls on September 15, 1901 and spent the next nine years at Chamberlain and Kimball during which time he was responsible for the construction of seven church buildings including Columbus College at Chamberlain. In 1910 he was appointed to take charge of the Holy Family Church at Mitchell where he was instrumental in the development of Notre Dame Academy at Mitchell.

He joined the American Expeditionary Force and was sent to France during World War I and served as a chaplain with the 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division . He was killed in action by shellfire on October 1, 1918. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the citation of which read: For extraordinary heroism near Very, France, Chaplin O'Flaherty displayed conspicuous gallantry in administering to the wounded under terrific fire, exposing himself at all times to reach their sides, and give them aid. In the performance of this work, he was killed. He was the older brother of Mayor of Galway Michael O'Flaherty (elected 1950) and uncle of Patrick O'Flaherty (born 1928, elected 1964).