World War II Honoree

John David O'Brien

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Conner Talmon

Relationship

Friend

He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the 11th Airborne (Co. E/188th GIR). Upon early graduation and given 8 hours to report for duty and training at Camp MacKall, he jumped into New Guinea, was involved in the fighting for Manila, Philippines where he earned the Bronze Star for directing fire onto enemy positions while remaining under fire himself and was preparing for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. He was on the second US plane to land in Japan at Atsugi Airdrome. He was assigned to Gen. McArthur's Guard Unit and Stationed at Camp Loeper under the command of General Robert "Shorty" Souel. After acquiring the necessary points, he returned to US in Feb. 1946 as a Captain (Co. I/188th GIR). *Info taken from obituary*