Clifford George O'Brien
SGT in 3132nd Signal Service Co
ASN#36437542
Born 1922 in IL, Died 2009
County of residence at enlistment: Fulton County, IL
Other residence(s): Chicago, IL; Canton, IL; San Francisco, CA; San Rafael, CA
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: semiskilled welders and flame cutters
Clifford O'Brien was born on May 10, 1922 in Chicago, IL, the oldest of three children. His father was a blacksmith, and later a foreman, in an agricultural implement factory; his mother was a schoolteacher. Cliff grew up in Canton, IL, southwest of Peoria; International Harvester had a huge presence in town, so it was likely there that Clifford's father worked.
Clifford graduated from high school in 1942 and registered for the draft on June 26, 1942, providing the name of his employer as International Harvester. He enlisted on November 25, 1942, and his occupation was included in the category of semiskilled welders and flame cutters.
He ended up being assigned to the 3132 Signal Service Company, and served with the unit in Europe during the war. After the war, he married Ermina "Mina" Roberts, and they settled in San Francisco, CA. The 1950 census lists Mina as a bookkeeper, and Cliff as a salesman for a copper mill, but unemployed and looking for work.
He eventually got a job as a salesman with Reynolds Aluminum, and continued to work there, and live in San Francisco, for many years.
The couple, who had no children, retired to San Rafael, CA. Clifford died there of lymphoma on October 8, 2009, and is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in McArthur, CA. Mina died in 2022, at the age of 102.
NOTE: We were unable to corroborate or refute any of the claims in quotes in the NOTES section at the top of this page which came from a 1993 document entitled "Pine Camp Photo Names"; perhaps some future researcher will have better luck!
Sources:
1922 Cook County birth certificate index
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/138773:2545?ssrc=pt&tid=159696571&pid=432400642090
1930 census
1940 census
1942 draft card
1942 enlistment record
1950 census
1959 San Francisco city directory
1993 US Public Records Index
2009 Find a Grave record (includes obituary)
2009 Social Security death index