58 YRS, MIA/KIA 
Edward James "Jim" O'Brien,
US Navy (WWII), US Army (Korea)

The Brother (Wally) of Jim O'Brien has requested the PGR for the
Interment of this HERO.

 

Jim's parents, Edward and Caroline O'Brien; and sister, Olive Cook have all
passed away, never knowing what happened to him. He is survived by his
brother, Wally (June); and many nieces and nephews. In Loving Memory of:
Edward James O'Brien

Born – February 6, 1921
Missing in Action – November 28, 1950
Recovered – October 19, 1998
Identified – April 3, 2008
Brought Home – July 1, 2008
Laid to Rest – July 2, 2008
Age – 29 Years

Jim served in the Navy during WW2, no details at this time.

Sergeant (Sgt) Edward J. O'BRIEN, RA 17240637, declared Missing-In-Action
(MIA) as of 28 November 1950, was a member of E Company (Co), 2nd Battalion
(Bn), 35th Infantry Regiment (Inf Regt), 25th Infantry Division (Inf Div).
The 35th Inf Regt, including 2nd Bn, was moving north along the west side of
the Kuryong River on the days leading up to their confrontation with hostile
Chinese forces. On 26 November, the 35th Inf Regt made their way north
toward the town of Unsan, and ended the day by settling just northwest of an
area known as Camel's Head Bend along the Kuryong River. This is as far
north as the 35th Inf Regt advanced during this time frame. After the 8th
Army command learned that further advance would run the unit straight into a
trap set by the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF), the 35th Inf Regt was
ordered to hold their position and be on the lookout for enemy action from
their left flank.

In the early morning of 26 November 1950, the 35th Inf Regt encountered the
first of many small-scale CCF offensive attacks. Despite the heavy fighting
that followed and continued throughout the night, the 35th Inf Regt did not
sustain heavy casualties on this day. They managed to hold their position
there until a withdrawal was ordered after it was learned that the CCF had
managed to break through the lines of friendly support to their left during
the night. On the morning of 27 November, the 35th Inf Regt prepared to move
south along the western side of the Kuryong River. Their attempt to pull out
began with the order for 2nd Bn, 35th Inf Regt to prepare to screen the
withdrawal of the rest of the regiment. Attacks against the 2nd and 3rd Bns
developed and needed to be repulsed before the extraction could begin. The
withdrawal of 2nd Bn began after the heavy fighting had ceased, in spite of
enemy mortar and machine gun fire still occurring in the area. E and G
Companies were struck by enemy forces, and it was mid-afternoon before 2nd
Bn was able to get away. The withdrawal of the 35th Inf Regt continued south
towards the positions they held just a few days earlier when they began
their northern advance on 24 November. In spite of constant enemy attacks
throughout the extraction, the 35th Inf Regt finally made it to their
destination and set up camp for the night about 3 miles north of the town of
Yongsan-dong.

On 28 November 1950 2nd Bn, 35th Inf Regt was located in the vicinity of
Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) grid coordinates 51S YE 340 162
(WGS-84 datum) when they were attacked by enemy forces. After engaging in a
heavy fire fight and being hit by enemy mortar and artillery fire, 2nd Bn
was ordered to withdraw down the Main Supply Route (MSR) to the town of
Ung-dong, located in the vicinity of MGRS grid coordinates 51S YE 305 112
(WGS-84 datum), where they again encountered enemy forces. After engaging
the enemy in small arms fire and forcing them to withdraw, the 35th Inf Regt
was ordered to withdraw about 4 miles southeast across the Kuryong River in
order to more effectively protect the left flank of the 25th Inf Div. Their
withdrawal to the town of Yongbyon, located in the vicinity of MGRS grid
coordinates 51S YE 405 103 (WGS-84 datum), left the 2nd Bn, including E Co,
exposed to further attacks along the MSR. A more in-depth account of the
entire battle can be found in S. L. A. Marshall's The River and the Gauntlet
as well as in the other secondary sources mentioned in the bibliography.

Though the 35th Inf Regt managed to fight through the enemy and make it into
the town where they ended the day preparing defense positions, the reports
show that Sgt Edward J. O'BRIEN was not among those that made it to Yongbyon
and was subsequently reported Missing in Action on 28 November 1950. A
review of Sgt O'BRIEN's service record and Casualty Branch file, conducted
one year later, showed Sgt O'BRIEN was last seen when the opposing forces
overran his company's position about 10 miles southwest of the town of
Unsan. No other reports disclosed any information that would justify a
change in status at that time.

On 1 May 1953, Edward J. O'BRIEN was promoted from Cpl to Sgt, and on 31
December 1953, he was issued a presumptive finding of death after having
been missing for over three years.

Public Visitation: Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Southern Funeral Home
414 Marie Avenue
South Saint Paul, Minnesota

STAGING: Marie Ave Service & Glass (Behind the Quick Lube Bldg) 103 5th
Ave. N. (Marie Street)

http://tinyurl.com/4ns43u

1330 - Staging Opens:
1420 - Briefing
1440 - Walk to Southern Funeral Home: Set Flag Lines
1500 - Family Arrives
1600 - Public Visitation
2000 - ETA Dismissed: (by the RCIC)

RCIC: "Indian John" metrose <metrose@patriotguard.org>@patriotguard.org
and SE METRO TEAM
---------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, 2 July 2008
 
Privite Family Service (PGR WELCOME)

Public Graveside Service: Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Southern Funeral Home
414 Marie Avenue
South Saint Paul, Mn

STAGING: Marie Ave Service & Glass (Behind the Quick Lube Bldg) 103 5th
Ave. N. (Marie Street)

http://tinyurl.com/4ns43u

0745 - Staging Opens:
0820 - Briefing
0840 - Walk to Southern Funeral Home: Set Flag Lines
0900 - Family Arrives
1000 - Private Family Service
1015 - Depart for FSNC Assembly Area 3
1030 - Escort: 8 Bikes No 3*5 Flags in route (mount 3*5 at FSNC) ARC Dennis
Mehrer
1030 - Extra Flag Line at Edward James O'brian's Home ARC: TBD
1100 - Interment Service at Fort Snelling National Cemetery Shelter 4
1200 - ETA Dismissed: (by the RCIC)

RCIC: "Indian John" metrose@patriotguard.org
and SE METRO TEAM

For those that can only make the Service at Snelling National Cemetery
1000 - Stage: @ Old Fort Snelling Horse Bldg  ARC: John Foster "Kneecap"
1015 - Briefing
1030 - Kickstands up: Depart for FSNC Assembly Area 3

PLEASE REMEMBER:

Your 3*5 American Flag
Dress according to the weather.
Remember to bring Water, and please don't lock your knee's
You will need to be self-sufficient at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

NEW: Old Fort Snelling Horse Bldg

Link: http://www.mnpatriotguard.org/docs/HorseBarnStagging.pdf

Caution! Location is good, but street names don't match (Correct Exit is
Bloomington Rd)
Red brick building just to the south of Hwy 55
Next to the Federal Bldg and Covered Tennis Courts
Exit on Bloomington Rd (Historic Fort Snelling exits)

From the intersection of interstates 35W and 494. East on 494 to Hwy 5 past
the airport one mile to Hwy 55 turn off (to Mpls). North 1/8 miles on Hwy 55
to Bloomington Rd. (Ft. Snelling)

Alternative is to go east on Hwy 62, which becomes Hwy. 55, and exit at the
Bloomington Rd (Fort. Snelling)

--
John P. Thompson III "Indian John"
STG1 (SW) (PG) US Navy 1981-1997
MN, S.E. Metro Ride Captain
metrose@mnpatriotguard.org

Soldier Missing In Action From The Korean War Is Identified             The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.             He is Sgt. Edward J. O'Brien, U.S. Army, of Omaha, Neb. He will be buried July 2 in Minneapolis, Minn.             Representatives from the Army met with O'Brien's next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.             In late November 1950, O'Brien was assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, then deployed north of the Chongchon River, along the main road running south out of Unsan, North Korea. On Nov. 26, the Chinese army struck the U.S. and Republic of Korea (R.O.K.) forces during the Battle of the Chongchon River. As a result, U.S. and R.O.K. forces, including the 35th Regiment, were forced to withdraw to the south. O'Brien was last seen when opposing forces overran his company's position about 10 miles southwest of Unsan.             In 1998, a joint U.S./Democratic People's Republic of Korea team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), excavated a site containing the remains of a U.S. soldier who died south of Unsan in the general vicinity where O'Brien was last seen. The team found human remains and two military identification tags with O'Brien's name on them. A North Korean national told the team that he first uncovered the remains while constructing his house, and that he buried them at the nearby site which was excavated.             Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of O'Brien's remains.             For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.