Info Sheet/Obituary - Terrence M. "Terry" O'Connell
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Terrence M. O’Connell was the Aerorifle platoon leader in 1969 – 1970. He was shipped home and got out. Went to law school and practiced law out in the DC area.
Obituary:
Terrence M. O’Connell, age 74, died peacefully October 19, 2019 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Hospital surrounded by his family, dear friends, and dedicated medical team. Terry is survived by his wife Linda, children: Helle Huxley (Parthenon), James O’Connell, and John "Trip" Menard O’Connell III, Michael Ryan, and Celene Ryan, along with his grandchildren: Fiona, Declan, Imogen, Phoebe, and Tova. He also leaves behind brother, John Menard O’Connell Jr., two sisters, Jane M. O’Connell (David Boucher) and Annie O’Connell DeMeo (Larry), as well as many adoring nieces and nephews.
Terry was born on September 22, 1945 in Baltimore, MD to John Menard O’Connell and Dorothy Rock O’Connell. After graduating from Sacred Heart High School in Newton, MA, Terry attended the University of Michigan where he was a walk-on member of the 1964 Big Ten and Rose Bowl Champion Wolverine Football team. He graduated from Michigan (1967) with a degree in Economics and History. Terry worked briefly as a junior high school teacher in Amherst, New York, until his enlistment in the U.S. Army.
Commissioned through the Army Officer Candidate School program in 1968, Terry’s military service includes duty as a Platoon Leader with the 2/12 Infantry and the ¾ Cavalry, both elements of the 25th Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam. It was with the “Aero Rifles” ¾ Cavalry that Terry’s combat actions resulted in the award of the Distinguished Service Cross, three Purple Hearts, and the Bronze Star with “V” Device, Air Medal with “15” Device, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge. Mr. O’Connell is a member of the U.S. Army Infantry Hall of Fame. Following a long stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Terry retired from the Army with the rank of Captain in 1972.
In his civilian capacity, Terry served as advisor under both President Jimmy Carter and President William Jefferson Clinton. In addition to his national experience as Political Director and Assistant to the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee, he worked with state and local governments in the United States and abroad. These efforts include extensive work with national, state, and local election campaigns, as well as government reorganizations. Terry was founder of The Keefe Company and later served as founder and Chief Operating Officer of Davis O’Connell, a Washington, D.C. based governmental relations firm.
On November 1, 1994, Terry was appointed Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB) by Secretary of Defense William J. Perry where he served from 1994-2001. The RFPB acts through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs as the principal, independent policy adviser to the Secretary of Defense on all matters involving the Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, including the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve. The twenty-four-member Board is composed of Assistant Secretaries of the three military departments for Reserve Affairs; Active, Guard and Reserve flag and general officers representing the Joint Staff, each of the Services, and their Guard and Reserve components.
Date of Action: January 8, 1970
O'CONNELL, TERRENCE M.
First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army
Troop D, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
DSC Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Terrence M. O'Connell, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop D, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant O'Connell distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 January 1970 while leading a combat patrol in search of enemy soldiers near Cu Chi. As the patrol maneuvered beside a thickly vegetated hedgerow, faint voices were heard coming from the mouth of an underground enemy tunnel. Lieutenant O'Connell immediately directed his interpreter to instruct the enemy soldiers to surrender. Two enemy soldiers surrendered immediately upon hearing the first command and a third yielded after a second directive was issued. As the third enemy soldier left the tunnel opening, a grenade was tossed from the hole but exploded harmlessly among the alert patrol members. Utilizing the temporary disorganization caused by the explosion, the third enemy soldier drew a grenade he had concealed on his person and tossed it toward Lieutenant O'Connell and two patrol members. Lieutenant O'Connell immediately shoved one dazed comrade to the ground and fell on top of the second man as the grenade descended toward his left shoulder and exploded. Although critically wounded by the explosion, Lieutenant O'Connell's unhesitating actions enabled his two companions to escape the blast with only minor fragmentation wounds. First Lieutenant O'Connell's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
HQ US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3377 (July 23, 1970)