- SURNAME
O'Brien
- FORENAME
John Patrick
- UNIT
40 Commando
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Military Cross
- PLACE
Italy 1943
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CITATION:
Military Cross : 22/1/44 Crossing of the GARIGLIANO.
This officer showed great leadership and courage throughout a night patrol in the ROTONDO area. He personally led a small party to form a road block in a position which was covered by enemy S.A. fire. Finding the fire too intense to proceed he placed his party in a position to cover his personal advance, and he himself went forward and silenced an M.G. post with grenades. The road block was then formed and no casualties were sustained.
Three days later, Capt. O'Brien was ordered to take a patrol of 10 in order to discover if enemy forces were forming up in a dry wadi South of CASTELFORTE. The patrol encountered some "S" mines and 7 were badly wounded including himself. After seeing that the wounded were withdrawn safely he himself made his way back to Commando H.Q. to make his report. The distance he travelled was about 2 miles and after making his report he collapsed.
This officer showed great courage, disregard for personal safety and displayed extreme devotion to duty.
This officer showed great leadership and courage throughout a night patrol in the ROTONDO area. He personally led a small party to form a road block in a position which was covered by enemy S.A. fire. Finding the fire too intense to proceed he placed his party in a position to cover his personal advance, and he himself went forward and silenced an M.G. post with grenades. The road block was then formed and no casualties were sustained.
Three days later, Capt. O'Brien was ordered to take a patrol of 10 in order to discover if enemy forces were forming up in a dry wadi South of CASTELFORTE. The patrol encountered some "S" mines and 7 were badly wounded including himself. After seeing that the wounded were withdrawn safely he himself made his way back to Commando H.Q. to make his report. The distance he travelled was about 2 miles and after making his report he collapsed.
This officer showed great courage, disregard for personal safety and displayed extreme devotion to duty.
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