Master Sergeant Ireland was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a medic with the Medical Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while tending his wounded comrades in North Korea on 30 November 1950. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Ireland was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.