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North
High School Wall of Honor
Carl Richard O'Neill
Class of June, 1950 |
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Research done by Claradell Shedd, class of 1953. |
Carl Richard O'Neill |
Carl
graduated from North High in June, 1950. At the time, his next
of kin was Mrs. Clare O'Neill, 152 Watson, Des Moines, IA. His
service number is 55217747. |
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Carl Richard O'Neill |
|
Year |
|
Rank |
|
Status |
|
June, 1950 |
|
x |
x |
Graduated from North High,
Des Moines, IA |
50-52 |
|
Employed |
x |
NW Bell Telephone, Des Moines, IA |
Sept.,1952-
Dec.,1952 |
x |
Drafted/US Army |
x |
Basic Training at Fort
Riley, KS. 24th Infantry Division |
January, 1953 |
x |
Enroute |
x |
Fort Riley, KS to San Francisco,
CA. Then by transport ship *USNS William Weigel (T-AP-119) to
Yokohama, Japan (Camp Drake). |
February, 1953 |
x |
Stationed |
x |
Yokohama, Japan to Camp Fuji at the
base of Mount Fuji. Four months. 24th Infantry Division. |
June, 1953 |
|
Arrived |
x |
Pusan, Korea |
August, 1953 |
x |
Unknown |
x |
Korean War Armistice. |
August, 1953 |
x |
Stationed |
x |
Freedom Village, Yongdungpo (45 miles
north of Seoul, Korea) guarding Chinese POW. There 13 months. |
1954 |
x |
Enroute |
x |
Korea to Seattle, WA via troop ship. |
Sept., 1954 |
x |
Discharged/Sgt. |
x |
Flew from Seattle to Camp Carson,
CO. |
date |
x |
Enroute |
x |
Train from Camp Carson, CO to Des
Moines, IA |
1954-1987 |
x |
Employed |
x |
NW Bell for 33 years. |
date |
x |
Employed |
x |
AT&T for 5 years. |
1988-Present |
x |
Retired |
x |
Living in Hot Springs, AR. |
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*24th Infantry Divison
The 24th Infantry Division was initially activated in the Regular
Army at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on 1 March 1921 as the Hawaiian
Division. Unlike most divisions in the continental United States, the
24th was concentrated on one post during the interwar years, which enabled
it to conduct more effective combined arms training. It was also manned
at higher levels than other divisions, and its field artillery was the
first to be motorized. With the threat of war in 1941, elements of the
Hawaiian Division were reorganized as the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions,
and the Headquarters of the Hawaiian Division was redesignated as Headquarters,
24th Infantry Division.
Among the first divisions to see combat in World War
II, the 24th sustained minor casualties when the Japanese bombed Pearl
Harbor on 7 December 1941. The division was charged with the defense
of northern Oahu, where it built an elaborate system of coastal defenses.
In May 1943 the division was alerted for movement to Australia and by
September of that year, it had deployed to Camp Caves, near Rockhampton
on the eastern coast of Australia. The 24th was part of the assault
forces that landed on Dutch New Guinea, where it fought its way to the
Hollandia airfield. After occupation duty in the Hollandia area, the
division was among the assault forces on Leyte. From there the division
went to Luzon and eventually formed an element of the assault forces
in the Southern Philippines. During World War II the division adopted
its nickname, "Victory Division." After serving in five campaigns
and being decorated by the Philippine government, the 24th left Mindanao
on 15 October 1945 for occupation duty in Japan.
When the North Koreans attacked South Korea in June 1950, elements of
the 24th Infantry Division were the first to arrive in Korea, where
they fought a delaying action against overwhelming odds. The delay permitted
the United Nations to build up its forces near Pusan, and the division
was awarded the Presidential Citation (Army) for its actions. Over the
next nineteen months the division fought in seven campaigns and was
twice decorated by the Republic of Korea. In February 1952 the "Victory
Division" returned to Japan where it served as part of the Far
East reserve. In July 1953 the division went back to Korea to restore
order in prisoner of war camps. The following year the division returned
to Japan, where it served until February 1955. At that time the 24th
deployed to Korea for another tour of duty.
When the United States reduced and realigned its divisions in the Far
East in 1957, the 24th left Korea, eventually replacing the 11th Airborne
Division in Germany. While in Germany, in addition to its standard infantry
mission, the 24th fielded airborne units for about two years. The division
remained in Germany until 1969 when it redeployed to Fort Riley, Kansas,
as part of the REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany) program. As the
Army withdrew from Vietnam and reduced its forces, the "Victory
Division" was inactivated in April 1970 at Fort Riley.
*USNS General William Weigel (T-AP-119)
Following a Magic Carpet voyage to Manila and back to San Francisco
11 April 1946, the transport departed San Francisco 16 April for New
York, arriving 1 May. Decommissioned there 10 May 1946, she was transferred
to the War Department for peacetime operations as an Army transport
and made shuttle runs with troops and supplies from San Francisco to
garrisons in the Pacific until reacquired by the Navy 20 July 1950.
General William Weigel was assigned to MSTS 1 August 1950, and redesignated
USNS General William Weigel (T-AP-119).
Korean War
During this phase of her career, the ship sailed from the Pacific coast
to Japan and Korea carrying troops for duty in the Korean War. She continued
to rotate American troops to strengthen the United Nations position
in Korea until she was placed in Reduced Operational Status in 1955.
General William Weigel was returned to the Maritime Commission
12 June 1958 and entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia,
Washington.
Awards:
General William Weigel received seven battle stars for the Korean War
and one for the Vietnam War.
|
|
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Basic Training at
Fort Riley, KS;
USNS from Sam Francisco to Yokohama |
*USNS
General William Weigel (T-AP-119) |
|
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|
|
Freedom
Village; Yongdungpo, Korea |
Freedom
Bridge |
Carl/Korea |
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Carl
Richard O'Neill
Sergeant
US Army
24th Infantry Division; 34th Infantry Regiment;
1st Battalion, Company D
|
|
National Defense; Victory Medal/Korea; Good Conduct;
Korean War Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal;
Army Presidential Unit Citation |
|
|
Living
in AR. |
Music:
"Wind Beneath My Wings" |
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