John O'Brien Obituary

John Patrick O'Brien FARRAGUT, TN - John Patrick "Jack" O'Brien, World War II Veteran, most recently of Farragut, TN and previously of the Charleston, SC area, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2023 surrounded by family. Mr. O'Brien was born on November 4, 1924 in Jersey City, New Jersey, son of Clarence and Alice O'Brien. In 1943 at age 18, Mr. O'Brien enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After training and as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 27th Troop Carrier Squadron. Arriving in Chunking, China, their mission was airdropping troops, food, ammunition, and other supplies. In August 1945, Mr. O'Brien was the navigator on a mission to Mukden, Manchuria to pick up and return twenty-four senior officers, American and Allied Prisoners of War after their liberation. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission. Mr. O'Brien left active duty in 1946, but served in the Reserve until his retirement at the rank of Major. After his service, Mr. O'Brien moved to Virginia, where he obtained an AB Degree in Economics at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. It was in Virginia that he met and married Virginia (Ginny) Murphy, his beloved wife of 55 years. In the 1970s, Mr. O'Brien and Everett Davidson, his brother-in-law, operated the U.S. Peat Corporation plant in Green Pond, SC. Mr. O'Brien also managed the Wendy's on James Island for 9 years in the 1980s. After his wife, Ginny's death is 2008, he began painting and has sold many Low Country landscape, musician and shrimp boat artwork in the Charleston, Mt. Pleasant and Knoxville, TN areas. Besides his parents, Mr. O'Brien was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Virginia Murphy O'Brien and his older brother, William (Bill) O'Brien of Folsom, CA. He is survived by his sister, Patricia (Pat) O'Brien Davidson Bates of Suwanee, GA and his brother, Edward (Eddie) O'Brien (Bobbie) of Hilton Head Island, SC; his two sons, Patrick (Pat) O'Brien (Barbara) of Farragut, TN and Daniel (Dan) O'Brien (Janice) of James Island, SC; grandchildren, and great- grandchildren include Kathleen O'Brien Mulgrew (Chris) of Knoxville, TN with ine, Liam and Conor; Michael O'Brien (Nikki) of Chicago, IL with John Patrick (Jack); Meghan O'Brien of Knoxville, TN; Annie O'Brien Kines (Louis) of James Island, SC; and Colleen O'Brien of Knoxville, TN. Mr. O'Brien loved God, his family, and his country. He was very patriotic, always wearing his World War II hat when in public and he was very appreciative of those that thanked him for his service. Services for John Patrick (Jack) O'Brien will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Folly Beach, SC on Friday, July 14, 2023 at 10:30am with interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on James Island, SC. at 12:00 noon. Click Funeral Home Farragut has charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, it was Jack's wish that donations be made in his memory to Saint Jude Children's Hospital at stjude.org. A memorial message may be sent to the family at clickfh.com.