" Lieutenant O'Donnell was leading the platoon in the attack on Hill 1100. While in the attack the platoon was pinned down by hand grenades ( thrown by the enemy ) and small arms fire. In order to neutralize this fire the Lieutenant led two machine gun squads around the left side of Hill 1100; and after a 45 minute fire fight there, he started to pull his men back. After the men started back, Lieutenant O'Donnell followed along the ridge. While following along this ridge, an enemy mortar round came in, wounding him fatally. He did not regain consciousness. Sergeant Wright ( Sergeant William G. Wright, US 55 102 008, R.R. # 3, Columbus, Wisconsin) and Private First Class May ( Private First Class Bernie R. May, US 53 032 068, Route # 1, Union Springs, Alabama) carried him behind a big rock and the medic, Sergeant Robert Bailey ( Sergeant Robert L. Bailey, US 53 082 709, c/o Mr. H.C. Bailey Union Mills, Route # 2, North Carolina ) went to him immediately. He held the Lieutenant in his lap as he died."
It took one small paragraph to describe the events that happened on October 13, 1951 on a hill in in the vicinity of Hondang-ni, Korea (an infamous hill that eventually became known as Heartbreak Ridge.)
But, these few words could not begin to describe the monumental loss felt by the family of this gentle man, 29 year old 1st Lieutenant Joseph Thomas O'Donnell, 010 59 578, the only son of Margaret (Coleman) and T.J. O'Donnell and the beloved husband of Marie ( Murphy) and father of 6 year old, Sharon and barely 3 year old, Diane.
My Uncle Joe's Infantry Commander wrote to Joe's wife , Marie, " It is difficult to express to you how deeply shocked the regiment is by Joseph's death; he was one of our best. As an officer and as a man, Joseph was respected and loved by all, and we shall miss him very much both as a soldier and as a friend."
Yes, he was one of our best and we remember.
No comments:
Post a Comment