Jim Mullarkey

Jim Mullarkey currently serves as Commander of the New York State Catholic War Veterans. Born, raised and educated in the Bronx, he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and Airborne in Vietnam in 1958. Mr. Mullarkey served in 77th Special Forces on his fi rst tour and 82nd Airborne Division on his second tour. In fact, his first trip to the Southeast Asian nation was to help prepare and train a new generation of soldiers in the South Vietnamese military. Mr. Mullarkey completed parachute school in the Army and joined the United States Parachute Team, competing in 19 countries. In 1969, he finished in second place in France at La Fete de Gauche, and he has parachuted into Van Cortlandt Park to honor his friend Joe Dunne, carrying Dunne’s burial flag.

Mr. Mullarkey continues to pay tribute to his fellow veterans. Throughout the years, he has provided dignifi ed funeral services for 48 indigent veterans as a final salute to these brave men and women. He also distributes burial flags to fellow veterans. When asked what his greatest accomplishment is, Mr. Mullarkey, like many veterans, insists that he will never leave his fellow soldiers behind.

Mr. Mullarkey is the author of patriotic prose, including Don’t Grieve for Me, which speaks in the voice of the deceased, stressing the fullness of life’s experiences. In addition, he has received many awards, including the Bronx Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians’ Service Award, Honor of the Order of Saint Sebastian and the Catholic War Veterans’ Nationwide Man of the Year Award.

An accomplished visual designer, Mr. Mullarkey designed a war memorial painting at a subway station at Bainbridge and Jerome Avenues which depicts soldiers and incorporates patriotic phrases. He has also created a tribute to his fellow sandhogs on a handball court at a Manhattan school.

Mr. Mullarkey is the proud father of Mary, Jacqueline, Candice, Diane, John and Michael. He has 17 grandchildren.