John T. O’Connell: From One Firefight to Another

By Donna S. Pacanowski, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interviews Volunteer

John O’ Connell was born in Chicago on December 7, 1931, one of seven sons. As youngsters growing up in the area of 69th & State, they all took on jobs to help their family through the tough times of the Depression.  John worked at Doc O’Neill’s, a neighborhood drug store and later, at a local produce business. The family belonged to St. Columbanus parish and the boys attended the parish school.  While there, Father Gorman, the parish priest, encouraged John to serve as an altar boy.  Years later, fate would have the priest and the altar boy reconnect.

 At the age of 18, John and his cousin, Edward “Jimmie” Moore, voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Army.  They were sent to Camp Cooke (today, Vandenberg AFB)  in California, for their Basic Training as part of the 160th Infantry Regiment.  After infantry training, Jimmie was assigned to a line company, trained in mortars and sent directly to Korea. John’s  training in Intelligence and Reconnaissance, earned  him a spot  in Headquarters Company and a stay in Japan. His unit was stationed on the main Japanese island of Honshu. The mission was the island’s defense and the preparation for a future deployment to Korea. This was easy duty with weekends off with some freedom to travel. On several occasions, John and a few buddies took the opportunity to climb Tokyo’s sacred Mt. Fuji. As proof of his successful climbs of the peak, John still has his souvenir “fuji stick,” that he had been branded in Japanese at the summit.

 His unit arrived in Korea for their duty just in time for winter.  John was assigned as a scout observer at a forward position on the temporary truce line separating United Nations forces from the North Koreans and Chinese. Living quarters was the line bunker, overlooking  “no man’s land.” The bunker’s main defense was a .50 caliber machine gun. The men slept on the ground; C-rations were the normal meals.  No free weekends, no visits to town, just six months of relentless front line duty before rotation to the rear for a month of rest, and then back to front line duty. The only “touring” permitted, were occasional patrols to check the perimeter and to scatter safe conduct passes for surrendering enemy troops. Winter was so cold that they used to say “Wolves ate the sheep just to get wool.” Even though John dressed in long underwear and two pair of pants and did just about anything to keep the cold away; it was never enough.

On one occasion, John’s squad was tasked with delivering important papers to headquarters.  It was monsoon season, the rivers were swollen and bridges were washed out.  He was told, “It’s easy, just follow the path along the river” but the path was in the river.  As the team trudged through the water-covered path, some wire tangled around John’s boots. As John cut free of the wire, his rifle slipped off his shoulder and was washed away in the  raging water.  Realizing the difficulty of walking through the muck, and with the waters deepening, the team found a log to use as a raft to float themselves down the deluge. One section of the river was especially dangerous. The normally dry banks, now covered by the swollen river, were booby trapped by napalm-filled barrels to prevent surprise attacks. The fear was that they might inadvertently trigger the napalm as they floated past.  Luckily, they sailed past the hazard safely and continued to the end of the journey, exhausted  but happy it was done.  The headquarters staff was surprised and elated at the team’s quick arrival delivering the vital intelligence in spite of the conditions. The team was treated to hot showers, a good meal, and, best of all, a fifth of Canadian Club for their efforts.

 John found out that his brother’s unit was in northern Japan, ready for deployment to Korea. John developed a plan: get a five-day R&R Pass to Japan, fly to Japan, phone his brother’s unit, get a hold of Richard, and arrange to meet in Tokyo. It all worked!  They enjoyed a few days together.  At a bar, the establishment’s photographer snapped a photo of the two brothers and a friend, posed in front of a risque painting of a woman.  Years later, John’s grandmother angrily demanded to know “who was the floozy?” in the picture with her grandsons!

Returning to America, John was honored by assignment to the 6th Army Honor Guard at the Presidio, a U.S. Army military fort at the Golden Gate . The Honor Guard paraded  for many dignitaries and military events at the Presidio and in the San Francisco Area. During John’s Army service, he received the Combat Infantry Badge, Occupation of Japan Medal, Korean Service Medal and the National Defense Medal.  Five of John’s brothers also served in the U. S. Army.  His brother Richard was wounded in 1951 in Korea and his brother Ronnie died in 1955 in Korea. Two cousins, Jimmie O’Connell and  Edward James Moore also died in Korea. 

After discharge, John returned to Chicago and his old job at Eastman/Kodak. After a short time, he quit that job and became a student at the Chicago City Colleges using the GI Bill. In 1957, John joined the Chicago Fire Department, attaining rank of Lieutenant, before retirement in 1987.  He had been stationed at several fire houses across the city, finally settling at the firehouse at 80th Street & Kedzie Avenue.  John and Father Gorman crossed paths again, when the priest of John’s youth accepted the position of Chicago Fire Department Chaplain.  In John’s career, one fire stands out most in his memory: the inferno at Gee Lumber on 79th Street. It began on an extremely hot summer day in 1958. Firemen and equipment were drawn from across the city to finally extinguish the blaze. John still treasures the old battered and scorched leather helmet he had worn during the fire, as a reminder of that memorable firefight.Back home, John and friends would frequent the Cosmo theatre and dance hall at 79th & Halsted. It was there that he met the lovely young lady with whom he would share his life.  John and Loretta were married in 1959, sharing 58 years together until she passed away last year.. They had enjoyed traveling to Europe, Alaska and Hawaii, among other family destinations. They had four children, two sons and two daughters.  John enjoys spending time with his five grandchildren.

Today, John stays active by working out several times a week. He loves to read and has acquired an impressive collection of books in a  wide variety of subjects.  He enjoys searching local garage sales.  He is a member of the American Legion, Chicago Fireman’s Post # 667.  

John, we honor you for your sacrifice and bravery during the Korean War.  Enjoy your well-deserved Honor Flight!