524:, succeeded in killing at least three of the enemy. Struck down by the concussion of grenades on three occasions during the subsequent action, he steadfastly refused to be evacuated for medical treatment and continued to lead his platoon in the assault for a period of nearly four hours, repeatedly encouraging his men and maintaining superb direction of the unit. With the attack halted, he set up a defense with his remaining forces to prepare for a counterattack, personally checking each position, attending to the wounded and expediting their evacuation. When a relief of the position was effected by another unit, he remained to cover the withdrawal and to assure that no wounded were left behind. By his exceptionally daring and forceful leadership in the face of overwhelming odds, Second Lieutenant O'Brien served as a constant source of inspiration to all who observed him and was greatly instrumental in the recapture of a strategic position on the main line of resistance. His indomitable determination and valiant fighting spirit reflect the highest credit upon himself and enhance the finest traditions of the
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subjected to an intense mortar and artillery bombardment while preparing to assault a vitally important hill position on the main line of resistance which had been overrun by a numerically superior enemy force on the preceding night, Second
Lieutenant O'Brien leaped from his trench when the attack signal was given and, shouting for his men to follow raced across an exposed saddle and up the enemy-held hill through a virtual hail of deadly
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Rifle
Platoon Commander of Company H, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 27 October 1952. With his platoon
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fire as he neared the well-entrenched enemy position, he bravely regained his feet, waved his men onward and continued to spearhead the assault, pausing only long enough to go to the aid of a wounded Marine. Encountering the enemy at close range, he proceeded to hurl
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A scholarship at Texas Tech
University which provides funding for U.S. Marines and their children was named in his honor. At the VA medical center where O'Brien volunteered, a statue of his likeness was unveiled in November 2008.
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with Gold Star in lieu of a second award, the Korean
Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the United Nations Service Medal.
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After his military service, O'Brien returned to west Texas and raised a family. He was an active volunteer at the Big Spring
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unanimously passed a House
Resolution honoring George H. O'Brien Jr. In turn, on April 15, 2005, the
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ceremony on
October 27, 1953, exactly one year to the day after the action for which he was cited.
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The
President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
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medical center. On March 11, 2005, O'Brien died from complications associated with
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while wounded by enemy fire. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by
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adopted Senate
Resolution Number 399, "In Memory of George Herman O'Brien, Jr."
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the following month, graduating in August 1952. After further training at
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fire. Although shot through the arm and thrown to the ground by hostile
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756:"George H. O'Brien Jr., 78, Marine Awarded Medal of Honor, Dies"
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in May 1950. While in college, he enlisted as a private in the
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Ordered to active duty on
November 27, 1951, he entered the
602:"Neugebauer files legislation on behalf of O'Brien project"
240:'s highest military decoration, for his actions during the
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United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War
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United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
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for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
272:. He then entered Texas Technological College (now
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344:He was promoted to major in the Reserve in 1963.
708:, History Division, United States Marine Corps"
379:In addition to the Medal of Honor, he held the
43:George H. O'Brien Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
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571:List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients
228:(September 10, 1926 – March 11, 2005) was a
811:Korean War recipients of the Medal of Honor
256:O'Brien was born on September 10, 1926, in
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318:By October 27, 1952, he was serving as a
481:SECOND LIEUTENANT GEORGE H. O'BRIEN, JR.
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311:in September 1952, where he joined the
704:"Major George H. O'Brien, Jr., USMCR,
801:United States Marine Corps reservists
754:Goldstein, Richard (March 21, 2005).
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796:United States Marine Corps officers
608:. Big Spring, Texas. Archived from
600:Reagan, Steve (November 24, 2009).
693:from websites or documents of the
483:UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
326:. On that day, he spearheaded the
286:United States Marine Corps Reserve
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706:Who's Who in Marine Corps History
836:People from Howard County, Texas
689: This article incorporates
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851:Burials at Texas State Cemetery
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831:People from Fort Worth, Texas
328:capture of an enemy-held hill
270:United States Merchant Marine
846:Texas Tech University alumni
520:to best advantage in savage
526:United States Naval Service
18:George H. O'Brien, Jr.
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841:People from Midland, Texas
695:United States Marine Corps
230:United States Marine Corps
157:3rd Battalion, 7th Marines
129:United States Marine Corps
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324:3rd Battalion 7th Marines
232:officer who received the
226:George Herman O'Brien Jr.
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31:George Herman O'Brien Jr.
293:Officer Candidate School
242:First Battle of the Hook
174:First Battle of the Hook
109:United States of America
474:Medal of Honor citation
458:On April 14, 2005, the
363:. He was buried in the
349:Veterans Administration
691:public domain material
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322:with Company H of the
276:) where he received a
262:Big Spring High School
88:Texas State Cemetery,
826:Deaths from emphysema
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274:Texas Tech University
203:Texas Tech University
135:Years of service
534:DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
365:Texas State Cemetery
335:Dwight D. Eisenhower
260:. He graduated from
714:on February 8, 2012
612:on January 26, 2020
522:hand-to-hand combat
516:and, utilizing his
313:1st Marine Division
278:Bachelor of Science
218:Petroleum geologist
464:Texas State Senate
59:September 10, 1926
638:on April 29, 2005
606:Big Spring Herald
505:automatic-weapons
460:Texas State House
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320:second lieutenant
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258:Fort Worth, Texas
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791:2005 deaths
786:1926 births
616:February 8,
339:White House
780:Categories
767:October 5,
577:References
493:small-arms
280:degree in
246:Korean War
198:Alma mater
168:Korean War
97:Allegiance
55:1926-09-10
512:into the
497:artillery
357:pneumonia
353:emphysema
337:during a
332:President
252:Biography
138:1949–1963
549:See also
297:Quantico
115:Service/
681:General
668:June 3,
642:June 3,
518:carbine
514:bunkers
282:geology
244:in the
582:Inline
539:Quotes
501:weapon
375:Honors
236:, the
182:Awards
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117:branch
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309:Korea
147:Major
769:2010
740:2010
720:2010
670:2006
644:2006
618:2010
532:/S/
499:and
355:and
192:(x2)
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143:Rank
68:Died
49:Born
367:in
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