"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty at Saipan, Marianas Islands, from 20 June
through 7 July 1944. When assault elements of his platoon were held up
by intense enemy fire, Lt. Col. O'Brien ordered 3 tanks to precede the
assault companies in an attempt to knock out the strong-point. Due to
direct enemy fire the tanks' turrets were closed, causing the tanks to
lose direction and to fire into our own troops. Lt. Col. O'Brien, with
complete disregard for his own safety, dashed into full view of the
enemy and ran to the leader's tank, and pounded on the tank with his
pistol butt to attract 2 of the tank's crew and, mounting the tank fully
exposed to enemy fire, Lt. Col. O'Brien personally directed the assault
until the enemy strong-point had been liquidated. On 28 June 1944, while
his platoon was attempting to take a bitterly defended high ridge in
the vicinity of Donnay, Lt. Col. O'Brien arranged to capture the ridge by a double envelopment movement of 2 large combat battalions. He personally took control of the maneuver. Lt. Col. O'Brien crossed 1,200 yards of sniper-infested
underbrush alone to arrive at a point where 1 of his platoons was being
held up by the enemy. Leaving some men to contain the enemy he
personally led 4 men into a narrow ravine behind, and killed or drove
off all the Japanese manning that strong-point. In this action he
captured 5 machine guns and one 77-mm. fieldpiece.
Lt. Col. O'Brien then organized the 2 platoons for night defense and
against repeated counterattacks directed them. Meanwhile he managed to
hold ground. On 7 July 1944 his battalion and another battalion were
attacked by an overwhelming enemy force estimated at between 3,000 and
5,000 Japanese. With bloody hand-to-hand fighting in progress
everywhere, their forward positions were finally overrun by the sheer
weight of the enemy numbers. With many casualties and ammunition running
low, Lt. Col. O'Brien refused to leave the front lines. Striding up and
down the lines, he fired at the enemy with a pistol in each hand and
his presence there bolstered the spirits of the men, encouraged them in
their fight and sustained them in their heroic stand. Even after he was
seriously wounded, Lt. Col. O'Brien refused to be evacuated and after
his pistol ammunition was exhausted, he manned a .50 caliber machine gun, mounted on a jeep,
and continued firing. When last seen alive he was standing upright
firing into the Japanese hordes that were then enveloping him. Some time
later his body was found surrounded by enemy he had killed. His valor
was consistent with the highest traditions of the service."
From Lt.Col. O'Brien's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on May 9, 1945.
A true ass-kickin' GI if I've ever read!!!
Brian
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