By Krista Finstad Hanson

For the Times

Prior to U.S. entry in World War II, the 11th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Division of the U.S. Army activated for service in April of 1941 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. In 1942, the regiment shipped to Iceland for 15 months and then to England. They arrived on the Normandy coast on July 10, 1944 and joined the 5th Infantry Division with General Patton’s Third Army. They fought in Operation Cobra in France. They fought at Metz in the fall of 1944 and then the Battle in the winter of 1944-45. In March of 1945 they fought at Oppenheim. When Victory in Europe was reached on May 8, 1945, the 11th Regiment was in Czechoslovakia.

Private Henry O’Brien served with the 11th Infantry of the 5th Division of the U.S. Army during World War II.

Private O’Brien died on Sept. 11, 1942 and was repatriated and reburied in Holy Rosary Cemetery in Darlington in December of 1947.

Henry Ellious O’Brien was born July 31, 1918 in Seymour in Lafayette County, Wisconsin to Joseph and Evelyn (Kendall) O’Brien.

From the 1920 U.S. Census, the O’Brien family was living in Seymour Township in Lafayette County. Father “Jos.’ was 40, wife Eva (24) and the children were Loretta (2) and Henry (1). They owned their farm and father Joseph was a farmer on his “own account” in the 1920 census. From the 1930 U.S. Census, the family was in the same place. The household now included children Bernard, Adamae, James, Juanita and Joseph. Father Joseph was a laborer doing road work.

Father Joseph O’Brien died Dec. 15, 1935 in Lafayette County. Mother Evelyn remarried Ezra Sommers at some point after that and before 1940.

On the 1940 U.S. census for Darlington, some of the O’Brien children were living with their mother Evelyn and her second husband Ezra Sommers. The household included Henry, Bernard, Aida M., James, “Wanita,” Joseph, Rose, and Robert O’Brien. Another child of Ezra and Evelyn was new daughter Mary K. Sommers. She was 2 months old. The O’Brien children ranged in ages from 21 to 1 year old. Henry was 21 and had an 8th grade education. Stepfather Ezra was a farm hand on a farm. Henry was a cab driver and Bernard was a truck driver with a milk route.

On Oct. 16, 1940, Henry “Elliois” O’Brian (sic) registered for the WWII Draft. From his Index Card registration, Henry was 22 and registered and was living in Darlington. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. Eva Summers. His employer was Albert Rueff.

On Nov. 6, 1941, Henry E. “Obrien” enlisted for service in WWII at Fort Sheridan, Ill. He was single, without dependents, had a grammar school education, and worked as “semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor.” 

From the May 25, 1942 Wisconsin State Journal notice “Darlington Men Arrive in Iceland,” the information shared was that “Relatives of the following Darlington men have received word that they have arrived in Iceland, Pvts. John McDonald, James Connelly, Forest McWilliams, and Henry O’Brien.”

On Sept. 18, 1942, The Capital Times the article titled “Pvt. O’Brien Mass At Darlington,” details information about the funeral mass being said for Private Henry O’Brien who died on Sept. 12, 1942 (Sic: Sept. 11). The article stated that O’Brien “was the first casualty from Lafayette county in this war. He was inducted into service Nov. 6, 1941, and had been stationed in Iceland since Apr. 5. He attended Holy Rosary school here as a boy, after which he operated a taxi service and was employed in a Darlington garage. He took his training at Camp Croft, S. C., and Ft. Custer, Mich.

“He is survived by his mother; four brothers, Bernard, Jimmy, Joseph, and Robert, all of the Lancaster community; six sisters, Mrs. Clinton Pattinson, Ada Mae, Juanta, Rose Ann, Barbara Jean, and Mary Katherine, all of Lancaster; and three half-sisters, Mrs. Robert Dresden, Madison; Eleanor Landon, Platteville; and Mrs. Elmer Zimmerman, Ft. Atkinson.”

From the Sept. 22, 1942 Wisconsin State Journal notice titled “Two Lafayette Men Drown in Iceland,” the article stated “Two Lafayette County soldiers were drowned while on duty in Iceland, parents were informed by the way department today.

“They were Pvt. Stanley A. Johnson, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Johnson, Blanchardville, and Pvt. Henry E. O’Brien, 24, son of Mrs. Ezra Summers, Darlington.”

From the June 3, 1943 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Details Revealed in Soldier Death,” the information was shared about what happened to Private Henry O’Brien. (Note: This was rare in times of war. Details like this were rarely shared in the newspaper).

The article stated “Mrs. Ezra Semmer (sic: Summer) of Darlington, mother of Pvt. Henry O’Brien, who lost his life in Iceland last September, disclosed today that Henry’s commanding officer, a Capt. Durst, has written to her and told the complete story of how Henry lost his life.

“The officer wrote that Henry was drowned along with two other men of his organization on September 11, 1942 about 2 p.m. while they were detailed to work on the construction of a ferry across the Olfusa river, a fast and treacherous stream, near Selfoss, Iceland. On the day of the accident four men, of which Henry was a member, were extending a steel cable across the river by attaching it to a rope already in position. While the boat, in which they were working, was in the middle of the current, it was overbalanced, and capsized.

“Henry and two other men grabbed on to the rope but the sudden weight of the three men and the boat pulled by the current caused the rope to break. The men were forced under the water by the current.

“The body of one of the men was found next day. Henry’s body was found 2 ½ months later five miles downstream. It was identified by his wallet, photos, and a letter in his pocket. The body of the third soldier was not found until about the first of May, 1943.

“All three boys were buried in Iceland in a little cemetery near Selfoss. Their graves are side by side. The officer wrote that the sod is green, and crosses symbolic in their lines.

“Henry’s belongings have been forwarded his mother. The money includes seven $10 bills and one $5 note in Iceland money. All are in good condition.

“Henry O’Brien operated a taxicab in Darlington before he was inducted into the army. He was Lafayette county’s first casualty in this war.”

From the Dec. 3, 1947 The Capital Times article “Darlington to Pause at Rites For War Dead,” the article explains that “The body of Pvt. Henry O’Brien, 23, Darlington, first member of the armed forces from Lafayette county to be returned here from foreign soil for reburial, will arrive here Friday afternoon…Funeral services will be held Saturday…in Holy Rosary Church.”

The Dec. 7, 1947 Capital Times had a photo of the “large turnout of former servicemen, and other friends and relatives among the home folks solemnly gathered at the Milwaukee road depot Darlington Friday afternoon as the flag-blanketed casket of Pvt. Henry O’Brien was brought home.”

Private O’Brien was put on the WWII Honor Roll list as Henry E. “OBrien” from Lafayette County, Wisconsin. His death status was DNB. He received the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal, awarded posthumously.

Other local WWII Fallen Heroes who also served with the 11th Infantry Regiment included James Connolly, Stanley Johnson, and Marion Kellesvig.

Thank you, Private Henry Ellious O’Brien, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.