World War II Honoree

Patrick Joseph O'Donnell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

The O'Donnell Family

DRAFTED. ASSIGNED AS A COMBAT ENGINEER TO THE 7TH ARMORED DIVISION AT FORT POLK, LOUISIANA. TRAINED AT CAMP IRWIN, CALIFORNIA, DIVISION JOINED THE THIRD ARMY IN ENGLAND IN SPRING 1944. ENTERED EUROPE WITH THIRD ARMY IN JULY, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION COBRA, THE BREAKOUT FROM THE NORMANDY BEACHHEAD. THE DIVISION WAS REASSIGNED TO THE FIRST ARMY JUST PRIOR TO THE BATTLE OF BULGE WHERE THE DIVISION, OUTNUMBERED 9 TO 1, PARTICIPATED IN A THREE DAY DELAYING ACTION AT ST. VITH, THAT ALLOWED THE ALLIES TO REGROUP FROM THE SURPRISE ATTACK BY THE WEHRMACHT GERMAN ARMY. VOLUNTEER 95TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION IN PREPARATION FOR INVASION OF JAPAN.