OBRIEN WILLIAM G

CW4 William "Obie" G. O'Brien was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/16/1994 at the age of 68.4
Rowlett, TX
Date of Birth 10/07/1925
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 119 AHC in 64-65, 478 AVN in 67
This information was provided by Ted Jenkins, SSN deceased search

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: 03/10/2024


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