513:, 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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621:"Texas State House Resolution — 79(R) HR 1065, unanimously adopted on April 14, 2005, honoring George H. O'Brien, Jr"
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533:"This Medal of Honor is not mine; I hold it in trust for so many young people who didn't become grandfathers."
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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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647:"79(R) SR 399, Texas State Senate Resolution Number 399, in Memory of George Herman O'Brien, Jr"
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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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288:, Virginia. He completed that course in February 1952, and entered the
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257:, in 1944. From December 1944 until May 1946, he was a seaman in the
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745:"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
591:"Neugebauer files legislation on behalf of O'Brien project"
229:'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:
261:. He then entered Texas Technological College (now
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333:He was promoted to major in the Reserve in 1963.
697:, History Division, United States Marine Corps"
368:In addition to the Medal of Honor, he held the
32:George H. O'Brien Jr., Medal of Honor recipient
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8:
560:List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients
217:(September 10, 1926 – March 11, 2005) was a
800:Korean War recipients of the Medal of Honor
245:O'Brien was born on September 10, 1926, in
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307:By October 27, 1952, he was serving as a
470:SECOND LIEUTENANT GEORGE H. O'BRIEN, JR.
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300:in September 1952, where he joined the
693:"Major George H. O'Brien, Jr., USMCR,
790:United States Marine Corps reservists
743:Goldstein, Richard (March 21, 2005).
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785:United States Marine Corps officers
597:. Big Spring, Texas. Archived from
589:Reagan, Steve (November 24, 2009).
682:from websites or documents of the
472:UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
315:. On that day, he spearheaded the
275:United States Marine Corps Reserve
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695:Who's Who in Marine Corps History
825:People from Howard County, Texas
678: This article incorporates
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840:Burials at Texas State Cemetery
296:, California, he embarked for
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845:Military personnel from Texas
820:People from Fort Worth, Texas
317:capture of an enemy-held hill
259:United States Merchant Marine
835:Texas Tech University alumni
509:to best advantage in savage
515:United States Naval Service
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830:People from Midland, Texas
684:United States Marine Corps
219:United States Marine Corps
146:3rd Battalion, 7th Marines
118:United States Marine Corps
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313:3rd Battalion 7th Marines
221:officer who received the
215:George Herman O'Brien Jr.
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20:George Herman O'Brien Jr.
282:Officer Candidate School
231:First Battle of the Hook
163:First Battle of the Hook
98:United States of America
463:Medal of Honor citation
447:On April 14, 2005, the
352:. He was buried in the
338:Veterans Administration
680:public domain material
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311:with Company H of the
265:) where he received a
251:Big Spring High School
77:Texas State Cemetery,
815:Deaths from emphysema
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263:Texas Tech University
192:Texas Tech University
124:Years of service
523:DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
354:Texas State Cemetery
324:Dwight D. Eisenhower
249:. He graduated from
703:on February 8, 2012
601:on January 26, 2020
511:hand-to-hand combat
505:and, utilizing his
302:1st Marine Division
267:Bachelor of Science
207:Petroleum geologist
453:Texas State Senate
48:September 10, 1926
627:on April 29, 2005
595:Big Spring Herald
494:automatic-weapons
449:Texas State House
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309:second lieutenant
255:Big Spring, Texas
247:Fort Worth, Texas
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62:(2005-03-11)
780:2005 deaths
775:1926 births
605:February 8,
328:White House
769:Categories
756:October 5,
566:References
482:small-arms
269:degree in
235:Korean War
187:Alma mater
157:Korean War
86:Allegiance
44:1926-09-10
501:into the
486:artillery
346:pneumonia
342:emphysema
326:during a
321:President
241:Biography
127:1949–1963
538:See also
286:Quantico
104:Service/
670:General
657:June 3,
631:June 3,
507:carbine
503:bunkers
271:geology
233:in the
571:Inline
528:Quotes
490:weapon
364:Honors
225:, the
171:Awards
115:
106:branch
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298:Korea
136:Major
758:2010
729:2010
709:2010
659:2006
633:2006
607:2010
521:/S/
488:and
344:and
181:(x2)
142:Unit
132:Rank
57:Died
38:Born
356:in
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284:at
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579:^
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196:BS
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
