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: 01/11/2025
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