Captain Joseph J. O’Brien, United States Marine Corps: For extraordinary heroism while serving as Operations Officer, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade in operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam from 17 to 23 September 1967. When an amphibious assault was delayed due to the grounding of all transport helicopters and monsoon weather, Captain O’Brien skillfully revised plans to engage enemy units infiltrating across the Demilitarized Zone. He quickly developed a surface landing to link the battalion with tracked assets on the beach and advanced the armored task unit north through enemy territory. When three amphibious tractors were hit by enemy artillery fire, Captain O’Brien exposed himself to a hail of enemy fire as he made repeated trips to move the wounded to a position of relative safety. Despite sustaining multiple burns to his hands and face, he refused to be evacuated. As a result of his exceptional tactical ability, the unit seized all D-Day objectives. On September 23, 1967, he launched a predawn assault with a reinforced rifle company and the Alpha Command Post mounted in amphibious assault vehicles. As the unit dismounted, close combat ensued with the well-concealed enemy battalion. Noticing enemy soldiers dragging wounded Marines away, he led a group forward taking the enemy under fire. He engaged and killed numerous enemy soldiers with his pistol and an enemy rifle while he protected the wounded Marines until they could be moved to safety. Although painfully wounded by enemy hand grenades, he shunned medical treatment and urged the Marines on with their relentless actions against the disorganized enemy forces. When enemy automatic fire from a concealed position stalled the advance, he spearheaded an assault on the position with hand grenades. After overpowering and eliminating the enemy, he collapsed from his wounds and was medically evacuated. Captain O’Brien’s exceptional tactical ability, initiative, and total dedication to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Colonel O’brien joined the Legion of Valor in 2006 as a LIFE MEMBER and resides in Southern California.