Robert Alden O'Brien
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
O'BRIEN, Robert Alden
Robert Alden O'Brien was born on July 26th 1916 to Arthur & Gyda (Steness) O'Brien of Hibbing, Minnesota.
Mr. O'Brien entered active duty in the U.S. Army on April 14th 1943.
He was assigned to the 113th Engineer Combat Battalion at Camp Shelby, Mississippi for training. He was later transferred to the Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and an engineer equipment repair officer with the 1885th Engineer Aviation Battalion, serving in the Continental United States and Guam. His unit built airfields used by B-29s that bombed Japan and other targets, and from which B-24s bombed Iwo Jima. He also had similar duty on Okinawa.
Mr. O'Brien received the following merits for his service:
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal with two bronze battle stars,
- American Campaign Service Medal, -and-
- World War II Victory Medal.
He was honorably discharged on May 28th 1946.
After the war he returned home
Mr. O'Brien died on November 9th 2006 at the age of 90 years. He is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing.
Source(s): Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 227.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 1 WWII Draft Registration Cards - Fold3
Robert A O'Brien (1916-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial
