Thomas L. O’Brien

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Thomas L. O’Brien, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: First Lieutenant O’Brien distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 January 1968 as commander of a relief force on a reaction mission near the Ben Het Fire Base. While working on the construction of the outpost, he heard the sounds of battle as a mine sweeping team operating nearby was ambushed. He immediately organized his work crew into a reaction force, moved to the raging firefight, and deployed his men to lay down a heavy base of fire on the attackers. Ignoring bullets striking all around him, Lieutenant O’Brien dashed two hundred meters with his platoon sergeant to aid forward elements pinned down by devastating small arms, automatic weapons, recoilless rifle and mortar fire. Informed that a soldier had been wounded forward of his lines, Lieutenant O’Brien sprinted through a curtain of fire, picked the casualty up and carried him to safety. He was wounded himself by shrapnel but ignored his injury to direct the evacuation to the casualty. He continued to expose himself to withering fire to determine the best enemy targets on which to direct air strikes. First Lieutenant O’Brien’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress, Approved 9 July 1918.