More detail on this person: On March 16, 1994,
the US Army lost one of its most unforgettable
members. A remarkable man who lived a
remarkable life, he was a soldier's soldier, an
Irishman's Irishman and a good friend to all that
knew him.
His devotion to duty made him a military natural.
He first enlisted in the US Navy on his 17th
birthday in 1942. He served on a destroyer before
seeing action on landing craft in both the
European and Pacific theaters. He participated in
the assaults on Normandy, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and
was one of the first Americans to arrive in
Nagasaki after the A- bomb and remained with the
occupation forces until, 1946, when he
participated in the atomic tests on Bikini
Atoll.
Discharged from the Navy in April 1946, he took a
civilian position in the Philippines. After a
short time, he returned to the States, attended
college, worked part time and enlisted in the Army
Reserve in 1952. He soon found himself touring the
barren hills of the Korean peninsula on foot as a
corporal in the 2nd Infantry division and earned
the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
While in Korea, based on his prior Navy service,
Obie applied for and was appointed a Warrant
Officer, Jr. Grade, in the Transportation Corps
Marine Division. While in the TC, in the Mine
Planter Service, he became a First Officer and
Master on Army watercraft and Master Diver and
served as First Diving Officer, 50th Engineer
Company, and on the USS Belgrove doing arctic
resupply. He then applied for and was accepted to
attend Army flight school in 1955, Class 56-5, and
graduated 21 April 1956. During his flight
assignment at Fort Sill, he participated in
nuclear exposure test flights in Desert Rock,
Arizona.
Resigning in October 1959, he started another
civilian career almost as unbelievable as his
military career. He helped form an independent
diving company with a staff of 15 full time
divers; he flew charter for Sunline Helicopters in
Jacksonville, FL; flew oil exploration in South
American for Keystone Helicopters, where he
suffered a broken back in an offshore external
load operation; flew for Petroleum Helicopters,
Inc; flew Arctic survey missions for Kenting
Helicopters; flew DEW Line support missions out of
Dawson Creek, Alaska, for Autair Helicopters and
finally wound up in Seattle working for Boeing
Aircraft.
Obie re-entered the Army in 1964, and was
assigned to the Eleventh Air Assault at Fort
Benning. His first tour in Vietnam ended in 1965,
when he was medevac'd to Tripler Army Hospital in
Hawaii. After release from Tripler AH, he was
assigned to Fort Wolters, TX, followed by
transition into the CH54A in 1967, and then
another tour in Vietnam, which ended with medevac
back to Fitzsimmons Army Hospital. He had
contracted tuberculosis and spent 19 months
receiving X-ray treatments at FAH. After release
from FAH, he was assigned to Fort Rucker as an
instructor at the Warrant Officer Career Center,
teaching "History of the Warrant Officer." During
this time, he was awarded the Master Aviator
Badge. From Fort Rucker, he was assigned to
Korea, 1975-76, as the Chief, WO assignments. He
then returned to Fort Rucker as an AG Officer.
CW4 O'Brien retired 1 February, 1986. At the time
of his retirement, he was one of only two
surviving WWII combat veterans still on active
duty. The other was General John Vessey, former
Chief of Staff.
From Springfield's to M16's, K-rations to MRE's,
recips to turbines, wooden blades to composite
materials, binoculars to NVG's, and from $24 a
month to today's pay rates, Obie lived it all. His
awards and decorations speak for themselves; the
CIB, Master Aviator Badge, Master Diver Badge,
Master of Army Watercraft, four Bronze Stars,
Purple Heart, Air Medals, and 30 Campaign and
Service Ribbons.
William George O'Brien, (Obie), was born 7
October, 1925, in Rochester, NY, died 16 March,
1994, in Ozark, Alabama. Interment at Arlington
National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia,
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 03/31/2017
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Date posted on this site: 10/23/2024
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