ASN: O-1321725

PLACE OF BIRTH: New York City, NY

DATE OF BIRTH: 08 May 1921

DATES OF SERVICE: 14 Jul 1942 - 00 Jul 1968

UNIT ASSIGNED: 542nd PIR 3rd Platoon, C Co, 509th PIB 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 11th AB Div (Korean War) XVIII Corps (Airborne)

CAMPAIGNS: Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, Central Europe

AWARDS: Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd Award for Korea), Bronze Star Medal (Unconfirmed), EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and four bronze star devices, WWII Victory Medal

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

14 Jul 1942 - Enlisted at Camp Upton, NY

11 Mar 1943 - Completed Basic and Advanced Infantry Training at Camp Croft, SC

28 Jun 1943 - Commissioned a Second Lieutenant

Completed Airborne school and Jumpmaster training with 542nd PIR

06 - 09 April 1944 - Attached Airborne Training Center, Italy

10 Apr 1944 - Assistant Platoon Leader, 3rd Plt, C CO 509th PIB

07 Aug 1944 - Reported to hospital with Malaria

16 Aug 1944 - Discharged from hospital

17 Aug 1944 - Assigned as Platoon Leader, C Co 509th PIR Participated in Operation ANVIL-DRAGOON the invasion of Southern France listed on page 71 in the book First Airborne Task Force by Michel De Trez

23 Dec 1944 - 2nd Lt. John W. O'Brien O-1321725 C CO 509th PIB SO 73 Assigned to XVIII Corps (Airborne) as Combat Liaison Officer

16 Feb 1945 - Assigned as Top Secret Control Officer, XVIII Corps (Airborne)

27 Mar 1945 - Assigned again as Combat Liaison Officer, XVIII Corps (Airborne)

27 May 1945 - Reported to hospital with Malaria, MP no longer required since war in Europe was over

16 Jun 1945 - Assigned as MP Platoon Leader, MP Company, XVIII Corps (Airborne)

03 Jul 1945 - Departed ETO

12 Jul 1945 - Arrived Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York City, NY

13 Jul 1945 - Placed on rehabilitative leave

20 Aug 1945 - Assigned as MP Platoon Leader, MP Company, XVIII Corps (Airborne)

03 Oct 1945 - Out processed for separation

05 Oct 1945 - On terminal leave

02 Dec 1945 - Honorably Discharged

Letter of recommendation for ( 2LT John O'Brien) battlefield promotion to First Lieutenant based on his actions during a battle at Turini, France on October 30, 1944. Signed by Captain Jess W. Wells, Commanding Officer for C Company, 509th PIB. In essence, the recommendation states that the platoon leader of 2nd platoon had been wounded and had to be evacuated; LT O'Brien, during the battle, took over the 2nd platoon and directed the re-organization of the platoon's defensive positions; as the battle swayed, he subsequently led combat patrols in pursuit of the retreating Germans.

While he was later promoted to First Lieutenant, the records do not indicate if the promotion was based on his actions under fire on October 30, 1944 or if the promotion was just a normal result of time in grade / time in service requirements.

After WW2, he stayed in the Reserves and was recalled to active duty for the Korean War. During the Korean War, he served in the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division; during the Korean War, he received a second award of the Combat Infantry Badge. He subsequently served with other airborne units in Germany, Fort Bragg, and the Dominican Republic.

00 Jul 1968 - Retired from the service

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