Just over 100 years ago, the fledgling Irish Free State sent Mr Timothy Smiddy to Washington DC.

“Every neighborhood has its behind-the-scenes hero someone who keeps things going, who always has an eye out who everyone knows they can turn to in times of trouble. In Dorchester, Doc Walsh is that guy.”

– Award citation 2014

When an older brother decided not to take a trip to the US, Patrick Walsh took his place and emigrated to Boston, settling first in Norwood. Once here, he enlisted in the Army National Guard, and when assigned a job in the base hospital at Fort Dix, NJ, a buddy nicknamed him “Doc,” and the name stuck.