Specific Veterans Memorial: Father Francis P. Duffy - New York, NY

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Lt. Colonel Father Francis Patrick Duffy Statue

New York, NY

Topic: Specific Veterans Memorials

GPS: N40° 45.542; W073° 59.101

Quick Description: 

A sculpture of Lt. Colonel Father Francis Patrick Duffy is located in Duffy Square between 45th and 47th Streets in the northern part of Times Square in New York City.

Long Description:

Francis Patrick Duffy was born May 2, 1871 in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada He immigrated to New York City and became a New York City Archdiocesan priest on September 6, 1896. He served as an army chaplain during the Spanish-American War, on the Mexican Border, and World War I.

During World War I he achieved fame in France as the military chaplain for the 69th Infantry Regiment ("The Fighting 69th") of the New York Army National Guard which was federalized as the 165th U.S. Infantry Regiment, part of the Rainbow Division. During combat on the Western Front in France, Lt. Colonel Father Duffy helped recover the wounded from the battlefield, often under enemy fire. In a regiment composed of Irish-Americans he served as an inspirational spiritual and military leader.

For his heroic actions during World War I, Lt. Colonel Father Duffy was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Conspicuous Service Cross from New York State, and both the Légion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre from France. He is the most decorated military chaplain the history of the United States Army.

After the returning from the War he wrote the autobiographical best seller Father Duffy's Story. He died in New York City on June 26, 1932. Times Square, between 45th and 47th Streets, is named Duffy Square in his honor.

An 8' high bronze statue of Father Duffy sculpted by Charles Keck is located in Duffy Square. The statue depicts a bareheaded Father Duffy wearing a World War I winter uniform with a long belted coat and high boots. He is holding a bible in his hands. A helmet lies on the ground by his left foot. He is standing on a two stage gray granite pedestal and in front of a 18' granite Celtic cross. The statue was unveiled May 2, 1937. The front of the pedestal is inscribed:


FATHER DUFFY

The back of the cross is inscribed with his biographical information:


LIEUTENANT COLONEL
FRANCIS P. DUFFY
MAY 2, 1871 - JUNE 26, 1932
CATHOLIC PRIEST

CHAPLAIN
165TH U.S. INFANTRY
OLD 69TH N.Y.

A LIFE OF SERVICE
FOR
GOD AND COUNTRY

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD
MEXICAN BORDER
WORLD WAR

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS
LÉGION D'HONNEUR
CROIX DE GUERRE