James J. O’Brien (“Jim”) passed away peacefully at home on Jan-uary 22, 2025, surrounded by family, after a year-long fight with brain cancer. Jim was born on January 6, 1940, to James and Mary (Cotter) O’Brien in Boston, MA. After growing up in nearby Watertown, MA, Jim became a proud graduate of Boston College High School and Boston College (1961), becoming a “Double Ea-gle.” Jim won scholarships in ice hockey and football to finance his college education, and he remained a devoted BC High/BC sports fan until his last day.
In 1962, Jim received his commission as an officer in the U.S. Army (Infantry Branch), with his initial assignment in Bamberg, Germany. It was during this assignment that he met and married Marilyn (O’Brien) O’Brien, beginning their 60-year journey to-gether, which included follow-on assignments in Monterey, CA (twice), Fort Benning, GA, Fort Meade, MD, Tampa, FL, Stuttgart, Germany, and Washington, DC.
Jim proudly served two combat tours in Vietnam, including with the famed 1st Infantry Division (“Big Red One”), earning the Com-bat Infantryman’s Badge (CIB), multiple Bronze Stars for Valor, and the Purple Heart. Always an infantryman at heart, but also al-ways willing to take on a new challenge, Jim spent the second half of his Army career as an Intelligence Officer, becoming a Russian/Soviet specialist during the height of the Cold War. Prior to his retirement as a Colonel, Jim led the U.S. Army Intelligence Threat Analysis Center, delivering timely intelligence and innova-tive analysis on Soviet military operations to the American warf-ighter, a mission in which he took great pride and satisfaction.
While Jim was a dedicated Army officer and faithful Eagle, his greatest pride and the fulcrum of his life was his family. Jim was a steadfast, loyal, and loving husband, father, and grandfa-ther. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Richard,
and survived by his wife Marilyn and his brother Robert. He is also survived by his daughter Terry and son-in-law Andy Bellus; son Mike and daughter-in-law Nicole; sons Jim and Kevin; grand-children Evan (and wife MacKenzie), Delaney, Kylie, Kevin (and wife Ashley), Katelyn, Jack, Erin, and Keira; great-grandchildren Avery and Sofia.
Jim devoted much of his leisure time in Florida, Germany, and Northern Virginia to coaching youth sports. He was often seen in uniform after work on athletic fields inspiring and encouraging his players to try hard, be fair, and lose gracefully. Jim is fondly re-membered as “Coach O’Brien,” as he coached his children (and many many of their friends) in baseball, football, and soccer. Lit-tle did he know that years later this soccer/hockey knowledge would allow him to follow his son Mike’s high school and college careers in lacrosse. One of his proudest coaching moments was leading the Patch Barracks youth baseball team that won the U.S. European Command championship.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Jim also volunteered with the Boy Scout troop in Burke, VA, in which all three sons were active members. Many a Friday afternoon saw him take the scouts camping, sometimes as close as Burke Lake Park. He thought camping was the essence of the scout experience. In retirement, Jim thoroughly enjoyed his time as a docent at George Mason’s Gunston Hall, where he would playfully “spook” his fourth-grade visitors near the graveyard there. Jim balanced these retirement “duties” by happily serving as his grandson Jack’s chauffeur (and #1 fan) to baseball practice and games across Fairfax County.
His favorite pastime was reading – mostly non-fiction, but with an occasional Tom Clancy thrown in. He loved all historical periods and walked around with a copy of the U.S. Constitution/Bill of Rights and beloved red Kindle in his pocket. Always quick with a comment, always truthful, but well-meaning in his critiques, never
one to hold grudges, and a faithful Catholic to the end. Jim was a man of integrity, loyalty, courage, and rock-steady calmness in the midst of danger or chaos. While these are certainly defining characteristics of Jim, it should be recognized that he also reveled in a spirited debate and the company of close friends/family, he loved to laugh, had a amazing smile, and he could cut a rug (dance)!
There will be a Mass at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel at 204 Ar-lington Ave, Fort Myer, VA 22211 on Tuesday July 15 at 10:45 AM followed by a burial at Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors. Please arrive at the chapel by 10:15 AM
https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Funerals/Attending-a-Funeral
https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Funerals/Attending-a-Funeral/Order-of-Events A gathering afterwards will be held at the Samuel Beckett Irish Pub on South Randolph Street, Arlington
Jim O’Brien was the consummate old time Soldier – like Patton and Eisenhower – smart, dedicated, hardworking, honest and led with honor and integrity. You’d want him in your foxhole every fire fight and know that he’d give his life for yours. His passion for learning was unparalleled, especially military tactics (once a Solider, always a Soldier). Jim’s New England upbringing taught him to “just get it done” without complaining or arguing. He loved his wife, children, grand kids and grand dogs. And was a great friend to me – even if I harassed the heck out of him every time we were together. I’m sure he is teaching military history to St Patrick and all his military band of brothers in Heaven (of course over an Irish beer).
