Edward Joseph O'Neill (March 24, 1902 – January 9, 1979) was a career United States Army officer and battalion combat commander in World War II. He later commanded logistics and support organizations and senior military staff in Europe during the Cold War-era.
Edward J. O'Neill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 24, 1902 St. Albans, Vermont |
| Died | January 9, 1979 (aged 76) Arlington, Virginia |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1924–1962 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | First United States Army United States Army Communication Zone, Europe |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Cronin (m. 1933) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relations | Jerome O'Neill (nephew)[1] |
| Other work | Consultant, Aerojet General Corporation |
Early life
editEdward J. O'Neill was born in St. Albans, Vermont, on March 24, 1902,[2] a son of Jeremiah O'Neill and Catherine (Aher) O'Neill.[1][3] He was educated in St. Albans, and graduated from St. Albans High School in 1920.[4]
O'Neill attended the University of Vermont (UVM), from which he graduated in 1924 with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree.[5] While at UVM, O'Neill was a member of the debate team, president of the student union, and president of the Boulder Society.[6] He also belonged to the Wig and Buskin drama society, as well as the Tau Kappa Alpha and Zeta Chi fraternities.[6]
During his college career, O'Neill participated in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps.[7] He attained the grade of lieutenant colonel as UVM's top ranked cadet,[7] and was a member of Scabbard and Blade.[8] At graduation, he was designated an ROTC honor graduate and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry.[2]
Career
editWorld War II
editO'Neill served in a variety of infantry commands and staff positions in the years between the world wars, with a tour in Hawaii and attendance at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 1936 he began attendance at the Command and General Staff School, from which he graduated in 1937.[9][10]
At the onset of World War II, O'Neill was a battalion commander in the 1st Infantry Division. In 1941 O'Neill became assistant then chief G-4, or chief of supplies and logistical support for the Fifth United States Army's VI Corps in the North Africa and Italian campaigns. He was responsible for supplying the Allied landing at Anzio, Italy in Operation Shingle. O'Neill ended the war as G-4 (staff officer for supply) for Fifth Army.
O'Neill graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1948.[11]
Senior commands
editIn 1950, O'Neill was Deputy Chief of Staff of the European Command, redesignated Headquarters, United States Army, Europe. In August 1954 he was promoted to brigadier general and later took command of United States Army Communication Zone, Europe, the logistics and support organization for the United States Army, Europe.
In that position on May 12, 1958, O'Neill selected one of 13 casketed remains of unknown United States soldiers from American military cemeteries in Europe to represent the unknowns from the European Theater of Operations during World War II. After a further selection of unknowns from the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, the Unknown Soldier of World War II was interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, 1958. O’Neill next served as Army Chief of Staff in Europe in 1959.
In March 1960, O'Neill was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed his final command of First United States Army at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York. While there, he also served as senior United States Army representative to the United Nations Military Staff Committee. He retired after 31 years of active duty on March 31, 1962.
Later life
editRetiring to Arlington, Virginia, O'Neill was a consultant for Aerojet General Corporation in Washington, D.C. until 1970.
O'Neill died of a heart attack on January 9, 1979, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
References
edit- ^ a b "Obituary, Frederick A. O'Neill". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. December 9, 1977. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Proud of 3 Soldier Sons". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. April 24, 1942. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jeremiah F. O'Neill Meets Death When Auto Plunges Into Mississquoi Current". St. Albans Messenger. St. Albans, VT. November 19, 1929. pp. 1, 7 – via Newspapers.com. Note: URL for page 7 is https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115631829/obituary-for/
- ^ Upton, Hiram (June 17, 1920). "High School Notes". St. Albans Messenger. St. Albans, VT. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Class of 1924 Receives Degrees In Course". The Vermont Cynic. July 12, 1924. pp. 1, 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "University Notes: Edward J. O'Neill, '24, Elected President of Student Union". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. May 7, 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Prizes Awarded to Senior Cadet Officers". The Vermont Cynic. Burlington, VT. June 4, 1924. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Greig and O'Neill to Go to Indianapolis". The Vermont Cynic. Burlington, VT. March 8, 1924 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "New Army School Term". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, MO. August 24, 1936. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Personals: Capt. Edward J. O'Neill". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. July 7, 1937. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Armed Forces Colleges Graduating N.E. Men". The Boston Globe. Boston, MA. June 23, 1948. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
edit- American Battle Monuments Commission Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial Selection of Unknown Soldier for European Theater of Operations
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers from The Quartermaster Review January–February 1964 In depth article on selection of World War II & Korean War Unknown Soldiers
- Mossman, B.C.; Stark, Warner (1971), The Last Salute: Civil and Military Funerals 1921–1969, Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, pp. 93–98, archived from the original on 2008-01-13, retrieved 2008-03-19
- Edward J. O'Neill at Arlington National Cemetery
- "First Army to Get New Commander", New York Times, January 31, 1960
- "New Chief for the First Army", New York Times, March 2, 1960
- "Retired Lt. Gen. Edward O'Neill Dies; Supplied Landings at Salerno, Anzio", The Washington Post, January 11, 1979