USS O’Brien (DD-725)

Captain Jeremiah O'Brien and his five brothers, Gideon, John, William, Dennis and Joseph, were crewmembers of the sloop Unity which captured HMS Margaretta at the entrance to the harbor at Machias, Mass. (now Maine), 12 June 1775. Under the command of Jeremiah O'Brien, thirty-one townsmen armed with guns, swords, axes, and pitch forks captured the British armed schooner in an hour long battle after Margaretta had threatened to bombard the town for interference with the shipment of lumber to British troops in Boston.

The fourth O'Brien (DD-725) was laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, 8 December 1943 and launched 12 July 1943; sponsored by Miss Josephine O'Brien Campbell greatgreat-great granddaughter of Gideon O'Brien and commissioned at Boston Naval Shipyard, Comdr. P. F. Heerbrandt in command 25 February 1944.

After shakedown out of Bermuda, B.W.I. and Norfolk, Va. O'Brien joined convoy forces 14 May 1944 enroute to Scotland and England. Following patrol and escort duty near England, she participated in shore bombardment of Cherbourg, and the invasion of Normandy. On 25 June while supporting minesweeps well inshore of Texas (BB-35), which was engaging German shore batteries at Cape Levi, near Cherbourg, O'Brien's own gunfire was so accurate that enemy gunnery positions shifted from Texas to O'Brien. She received a direct hit just abaft the bridge, but was able to stay on station long enough to lay a smoke screen for Texas. Thirteen men were killed and nineteen wounded. Following temporary repairs in Portland, England, O'Brien escorted a convoy to the Boston Naval Shipyard where she underwent extensive work.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (O'Brien IV (DD-725)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.