GREAT WAR VETERAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25302, 12 August 1943, Page 3

GREAT WAR VETERAN

SERVING IN SOUTH PACIFIC SOUTH PACIFIC BASE, (Special) July 26. A New Zealand-born veteran of the Great War, now a citizen of the United States, has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel from that of major in the United States Army. He is John G. O’Brien, of Shreveport, La., now on active service in this area. ' Colonel O'Brien served with the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt. Gallipoli, and France, and was awarded two medals in addition to the British war and victory medals. Born in Nelson, he attended the Palmerston North High School and Nelson College. He went to the United States immediately following the last war, and loined the Continental and Commercial Banks of Chicago, with which organisations he served for seven years. From 1921 to 1924 he attended the De Paul University Law School in Chicago, and in 1926 went to Shreveport, La., as vice-president of the Commercial National Bank, a position he still holds. Colonel O’Brien visited New Zealand in 1930, and again in 1940, by Pan-American Clipper to see his mother, who lives at 58 Fairview crescent, Wellington. Since being on active service in this area he has 'also made two brief visits to his family and friends in the Dominion.