JOHN CARDINAL OCONNOR

Tour of Duty - 1964 - 65
3rd MARINES

Okinawa - Viet Nam

Chaplain O'Connor was originally assigned as the Division Chaplain of the Third Marine Division which was headquartered on Okinawa. When the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade deployed to Vietnam, he was attached to that air-ground organization as the Senior Chaplain serving those Marines.

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~ MEMORIES ~

... courageous, competent, dedicated and faithful ...
During the Vietnam War, I served as a United States Navy and Marine Corps chaplain. It was my good fortune to
   meet a senior chaplain, a Catholic priest named Father John O'Connor. During my service our paths crossed
many times, particularly while I was stationed in San Diego. Some may think it odd that Catholic Father John
Joseph O'Connor became a friend and a mentor to a young rabbi. I remember well his saying, "Rabbi, make sure
that you are aware of all the bars in your area, especially the disreputable ones."   I looked up in surprise. Father
O'Connor continued, "You will be spending a good deal of time there" pausing — then quickly adding, "pulling
sailors out of these locations." As it turned I spent many a weekend down in Tijuana fishing Marines and sailors
            out of the local police stations. A military chaplain's job is not just for the battlefield.
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But Chaplain O'Connor was much more than a social worker. He had in fact voluntarily served with our combat
troops at the front lines in Veitnam. He was courageous, competent, dedicated and faithful to his calling, and he
unfailingly displayed a marvelous sense of humor. Rabbi Dr. Morton H. Pomerantz

... my money was never any good ...
While serving in the US Marine on Okinawa, I had the privilage of being Father O'Connor's personal driver. At that time he was Captain John O.Connor Regimental Chaplain of the 9th Marines. Sometime in early 1965 we boarded a C130 aircraft and flew to Viet Nam There, Father O'Conner was a true warrior, always in the field with the Marines. He always had time for the Marines and there problems of war I will never forget all the personal experiences I had with him. I remember driving down the road while on Okinawa and he would catch me eyeing a pretty girl and he would say, "Hey good eye Skip." He would always take me to lunch when on the road, being a generous man, my money was never any good. I'm sure he recognized the problem with a PFC and the amount of money I was paid. May his soul rest in peace. I will surely miss him.
Robert Chaulsett Long Beach, CA USA

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