A Marine's Story: Major George Herman O'Brien Jr.


Major George Herman 0'Brien Jr. was born on September 10, 1926, in Fort Worth, Texas. After graduating from Big Springs High School in 1944, he went to work as a merchant marine for a couple of years before enrolling in Texas Technical College in 1946. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in geology and began a career in the oil and gas industry as a petroleum geologist. Major 0'Brien also enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps reserves.

On November 27, 1951, Major George O'Brien was called to active duty. After completing further combat courses and Officers Candidate School, he was assigned to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, and then he deployed to Korea for the Korean War.

Major O'Brien earned a Congressional Medal of  Honor on October 27, 1952, during the recapture of a hill known as "The Hook." While wounded, Major O'Brien continued to lead his unit through a grueling fight that would ultimately descend into hand-to-hand combat. The US Marines would eventually take the hill. Major O'Brien also remained, wounded, at the hill with his unit while the wounded Marines were evacuated to ensure none of them were left behind. 

After the war, Major George O'Brien returned to his work in petroleum geology. He also remained in the Marine Reserves throughout his life. He died on Mach 11, 2005, and rests at the Texas State Commentary in Austin, Texas. 

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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Location: Fort Worth, TX, USA

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