World War II Honoree

John Joseph O'Hara

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Astoria, New York

Honored By

John J. O'Hara, Jr.

Relationship

Son

SERGEANT E-5. DATES OF SERVICE: 3 APRIL 1943-10 DECEMBER 1945. COMBAT ENGINEER. SERVED WITH THE 266TH COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION AS PART OF THE 66TH INFANTRY DIVISION (BLACK PANTHERS). WHILE CROSSING THE ENGLISH CHANNEL ON CHRISTMAS EVE, 1944 EN ROUTE TO CHERBOURG, FRANCE A TORPEDO LAUNCHED BY A GERMAN U-BOAT RIPPED INTO THE TRANSPORT (SS LEOPOLDVILLE) KILLING 762. ON 29 DECEMBER THE 66TH WAS SENT TO CONTAIN THE ST. NAZAIRE AND LORIENT SECTIONS ON THE WEST COAST OF FRANCE. SERVED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AFTER THE ARMISTICE, THE 66TH DIVISION WAS ORDERED TO AN OCCUPATION MISSION IN KOBLENZ, GERMANY ON 14 MAY 1945 BUT ORDERS WERE CHANGED ON 26 MAY TO PROCEED TO THE PORT OF MARSEILLES, FRANCE. AWARDED: GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON WWII. AWARDED THE NEW YORK STATE MEDAL FOR MERIT WITH 4 SILVER SHIELD DEVICES.