George Herman O'Brien

O'BRIEN JR., GEORGE HERMAN (1926 ~ 2005). George Herman O'Brien, Jr. was born in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas on September 10, 1926, to George H. O'Brien, Sr. and Della Cartwright. He was raised and educated in Big Spring, Howard County, Texas and later attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where he graduated with a B.S. in Geology.

After the outbreak of the Korean conflict, O'Brien entered the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve in Big Spring. He served in the 1st Platoon, Company H, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced). While in Korea, O'Brien served as a Rifle Platoon Commander at a place called The Hook.

While at The Hook, O'Brien demonstrated impressive valor above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of his own life. On October 27, 1952, O'Brien, with his platoon subjected to intense bombardment, "leaped from his trench and raced across an exposed saddle and up an enemy-held hill through a virtual hail of deadly small-arms, artillery, and mortar fire."

Although wounded, he led his men forward while hurling hand grenades into enemy bunkers. Utilizing his carbine, he succeeded in killing three North Korean soldiers before being wounded again by the concussion of three grenades. Refusing medical evacuation, O'Brien continued to lead his platoon for another four hours.

When the attack halted, he prepared for a counterattack, "personally checking each position, attending to the wounded and expediting their evacuation." When another unit arrived to offer relief, O'Brien "remained to cover the withdrawal and to assure that no wounded were left behind."

Because of his actions, President Dwight D. Eisenhower awarded Second Lieutenant O'Brien the Medal of Honor exactly one year after that day in The Hook, Korea.

On July 28, 1979, he married Sandra Rogers Holland in Lubbock. They had daughters Terrye, Ann, and Dorothy; and sons Mike, Robb, and Dick.

O'Brien belonged to the Medal of Honor Society, AAPG, and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. O'Brien passed away Friday, March 11, 2005, in Midland, Texas and was interred in the State Cemetery March 16, 2005.