[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13083]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONOR THE MEMORY OF U.S. ARMY 2ND LIEUTENANT DONALD AMES O'BRIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEVEN C. LaTOURETTE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 2004

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the 
late U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant Donald Ames O'Brian, who served proudly 
as an Infantry platoon leader with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 21st 
Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.
  O'Brian was killed in action on June 17, 1945, by an exploding 
Japanese artillery shell, near Calinan, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
  O'Brian was born on March 20, 1923, in Berwyn, Illinois. He was the 
son of Harold and Florence O'Brian, and graduated from my alma mater, 
Cleveland Heights High School, in June 1941. He attended Fenn College 
(later to become Cleveland State University), and worked at Thompson 
Products Company (later to become TRW Corporation).
  After enlisting in the U.S. Army and completing basic training, 
O'Brian volunteered for Officer Candidate School. Upon Graduation, he 
was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Anti-Aircraft Artillery 
branch. O'Brian soon requested a transfer to the Infantry branch so 
that he could engage in active combat as an Infantry platoon leader in 
the Pacific theater of operations under the command of General Douglas 
MacArthur.
  O'Brian participated in the liberation of the Philippine Islands with 
the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division, which invaded 
Mindanao Island, about 600 miles south of Manila. He dedicated himself 
to leading the men in his platoon, and earned their respect as he led 
them in combat. The 21st Infantry Regiment was engaged in 63 continuous 
days of combat against stiff Japanese resistance during the liberation 
of Mindanao Island.
  Sadly, O'Brian was killed on June 17, 1945, a day before final 
victory was achieved by the 21st Regiment.
  Lt. Col. Roy W. Marcy, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, wrote 
a letter to O'Brian's mother that said: ``Donald displayed superior 
courage and bravery as leader of his platoon. The aggressiveness and 
leadership, which Donald exhibited, gives those of us who remain a 
wonderful example to follow in future operations against the enemy. 
Donald was the traditional hard fighting American soldier and he is 
grievously missed by all his fellow officers and soldiers.''
  As a tangible expression of the esteem held for O'Brian, the officers 
and men of the 2nd Battalion named an encampment area ``Camp D. A. 
O'Brian'' in his honor. O'Brian's mother received his posthumous Purple 
Heart medal, and letters of condolence from General MacArthur and 
Secretary of War Henry Stimson.
  Recently, Mrs. Lorraine Sutliff of Aurora, OH, contacted my office to 
determine if there were any additional medals her brother was entitled 
to that were authorized by the War Department after the end of World 
War II.
  We determined that O'Brian was entitled to the following awards: the 
Combat Infantryman's Badge for being an Infantry platoon leader in 
combat; Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious service in combat; 
American Campaign Medal for his service in the United States; Asiatic 
Pacific Campaign Medal for service in the Pacific Theater; and the 
World War II Victory Medal. He was also eligible for the Philippine 
Liberation Medal authorized by the Philippine government.
  Lawrence Binyon was a British poet who wrote ``For the Fallen'' to 
honor all of the soldiers who died defending liberty and freedom during 
World War I. His words of comfort are timeless to express the precious 
memories of all those brave soldiers who died to keep this great 
country free.

     They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
     Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
     At the going down of the sun and in the morning
     We will remember them.

  Mr. Speaker, a grateful nation honors Lt. O'Brian's heroism and the 
ultimate sacrifice he paid to achieve victory in the Philippines.

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