World War II Honoree

Charles J. O'Reilly

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Family

ENTERED IN JANUARY 1943, TRAINED AT PARRIS ISLAND WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN TORPEDO GUIDANCE AT THE GREAT LAKES NAVY BASE. STATIONED AT CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA WITH THE NEWLY CREATED VMB-433 AIR WING. FLEW AS A GUNNER AND TORPEDOMAN ON THE B-25 PBJ, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS THE MOST HEAVILY ARMED BOMBER IN WWII. LEFT IN LATE 1943 FOR PACIFIC THEATER. ROTATED FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND IN SOUTH PACIFIC, INCLUDING PAPUA, NEW GUINEA, EMIRAU AND THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.