This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: O'Brien, Jacobson Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SRB.2ACE/11897 Message Board Post: PJ: Dec. 9, 1943: AIR ACE, FORMER WEST POINTER SHOT DOWN ON RAID MISSION - The steadily lengthening list of war causalities among Jamestown men in the armed forces was augmented this morning when a laconic message from the War Department at Washington brought the news that Major Paul J. O’Brien, 25, serving in the United States Army Air Forces in China, has been missing in action since Dec. 1. No further information was included in the telegram received by his wife, the former Jean Louise Jacobson, who, with their two children, resides at 417 Front street. In addition to the children, both girls, one about a year and a half old and the other only two months, there are his parents, Traffic Patrolman and Mrs. James O’Brien, all residing at 609 East Seventh Street. Major O’Brien, one of the very few Jamestown men to be graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, had a distinguished career in the Army, serving first as an instructor at various places in this country and later seeing actual combat service. He was graduated from Jamestown High School in 1936, continuing his studies at the University of Cincinnati before entering West Point, from which he was graduated as a second lieutenant in 1941, subsequently being promoted first lieutenant, captain and major. During his four years at J.H.S., he starred in football and continuing in that sport at West Point, played a guard position for three years. Shortly after graduation, he married Miss Jean Jacobson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin a. Jacobson, 7 Clark Avenue, and with his bride, went to Tulsa, Okla. to take a course of instruction at the Spartan School of Aeronautics. Later he served at air bases at San Antonio, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Tucson, Ariz, and in Florida, before leaving for overseas service last February and serving, when last heard from about two weeks ago in command of a bombardment squadron in China. As a captain, he was one of the squadron leaders as American heavy bombers dropped over 30 tons of bombs on Japanese installation at Toungoo, Burma, last May, one of the outstanding accomplishments of the Air Force up to that time. He also participated as a squadron leader in the Hainan Island raid, off the southern tip of China, and in the raid on Hano-Haiphong area of northern French Indo-China. He was a member of Gen. Chennault’s 14th air Force based at Chungking. PJ: Dec., 1943: MISSING FLIER DECORATED DAY AFTER REPORTED LOST. The finger of Fate has traced some strange designs in time of war and one of the strangest concerns Major Paul J. O’Brien, Jamestown officer of the U.S. Army Air Forces, reported mission in action in China since Dec. 1. First news of his disappearance came in a message from the War Department received by his wife, Mrs. Jean Jacobson O’Brien on Thursday morning (Dec. 9, 1943), with no further information being given. Then, in late afternoon, The Post Journal received this Washington Dispatch from the Associated Press: :Major Paul J. O’Brien, Jamestown, N.Y., and 2d Lt. Leon R. Wright of Morristown, have received the Air Medal for heroism and outstanding achievement in China, the War Department announced today. O’Brien and Wright are members of the United States 14th Air Force.” Thus, within a period of only about eight hours, came tidings of the loss of a gallant young officer in action against the enemy in far-a-way China, and government recognition of his gallantry in the form of a decoration. It is not known here whether the medal was awarded for Major O’Brien’s heroism in this latest action or for some earlier mission, as he had participated in several raids on enemy occupied territory. PJ: Dec. 13, 1943: MAJOR O’BRIEN DEAD, WIFE IS INFORMED: The last ray of hope that Major Paul J. O’Brien, U.S. Army Air Forces, reported missing in action in the China Area since Dec. 1, was still alive vanished Sunday, when his wife, Mrs. Jean Jacobson O’Brien, 417 Front Street, received a message from the War Department stating that the original report was erroneous and the young officer had been killed in action in the China war theater. Major O’Brien, Jamestown’s first West Pointer to lose his life in the present war, was the son of Traffic Patrolman and Mrs. James O’Brien, 609 East Seventh Street. He was a graduate of Jamestown High School, attended the University of Cincinnati and was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1941. At both J.H.S. and West Point he starred in football. He began his service overseas after being stationed at several Army air bases in this country. In addition to his wife and his parents, he leaves two children, both girls, one a year and a half old and the other about two months. PJ: June 2, 1944: CHURCH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO LATE MAJOR O’BRIEN In dedicating a new service flag at 7:30 p.m. Sunday Zion Mission Church will pay tribute to Major Paul J. O’Brien, who gave his life while serving in the United States Army Air Forces in China. First reported mission in action on Dec. 1, 1943, Major O’Brien’s death was confirmed Dec. 12. Rev. Gordon A. Nelson will read letters from prominent Army Officers paying tribute to the flier, including a message from General Claire Chennault, head of the 14th Air Force in China. The new service flag, boasting a single centered star and the number of service men and women serving from the church, replaces a flag with 146 single stars. A gold star will appear on the new flag, in memorial to Major O’Brien. Mr. Nelson today announced that seats will be reserved for members of the family and relatives of Major O’Brien and that his Sunday School class will attend in a body. Taps will be sounded by George Schwab.