World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
James M. O'Brien
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Loudonville, New York
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: CORPORAL. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS DECEMBER 18, 1943 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF PELELIU, CODE NAME: OPERATION STALEMATE II (15 SEPTEMBER-25 NOVEMBER 44). HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1944 AND WAS BURIED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES CEMETERY ON PELELIU. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED TO HONOLULU, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC, ‘PUNCHBOWL’ HAWAII. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE MARINE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.