SNIPPET: When WWI broke out in the summer of 1914, Irish Americans joined the rest of America in opposing U. S. involvement. For most Americans, this was simply an expression of traditional American isolationism. For Irish Americans, however, there were additional reasons, most especially the long-standing belief that whatever was bad for England had to be good for Ireland. At the very least they balked at the idea of Irish American soldiers being sent to die on behalf of His Majesty's empire. They rejected John REDMOND's decision to pledge Irish support to the British war effort as a means to gain home rule after the war. Irish American opposition reached its apex in the months following the 1916 Easter Rising and summary executions of the leaders. Still, when the U. S. declared war on Germany in April 1917, Irish Americans set aside their nationalist ideals and cast their support for the American cause. On April 7, 1917, as soon as he heard that America had declared war on Germany, famed songwriter George Michael COHAN set about writing a patriotic song that would soon become the WWI anthem, "Over There." Finished in a single day, the song proved wildly popular, selling millions of copies of sheet music and records. President Woodrow WILSON declared that it inspired American manhood. In 1940, COHAN received a Congressional Medal of Honor for "Over There" and "You're a Grand Ole Flag." COHAN was born July 3, 1878, in Providence, RI, but all his life he considered July 4th to be his birthday. A multi-talented actor, dancer, lyricist, playwright, and producer, COHAN was once called "the best thing the Irish ever gave America." A descendant of Co. Cork emigrants, he began his stage career as an infant in the family vaudeville act, the Four Cohans, which became a Broadway success at the turn of the century. Before he was 40, he was a leading producer and had created a popular form of musical plays and starred in many of his own productions. COHAN played a large role in helping to elevate vaudeville with its crude Irish stereotyping into a more respectable Broadway entertainment, and in a career spanning nearly 40 years, he had a hand in 80 Broadway shows, for which he acted, wrote, composed, or otherwise contributed. Popular songs include "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "Yankee Doodle Boy." He was also highly successful in his role as the father in Eugene O'NEILL's play, "Ah, Wilderness," and as Franklin D. Roosevelt in the musical, "I'd Rather Be Right." Actor James CAGNEY portrayed COHAN's life in the 1942 Academy Award-winning motion picture, "Yankee Doodle Dandy," and he was also the subject of the 1968 Broadway musical "George M."