Militaria, Vintage Clothing, Collectibles
Lot 174:
Description
This historically important lot honors two brothers’from Ames, Iowa Charles Henry O’Neil and James Joseph O’Neil both of whom served with distinction in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and both of whom gave their lives in service to their country. Charles Henry O’Neil 1918?1944 Born December 14, 1918, Charles studied at Iowa State College before enlisting in the Army Air Corps on September 8, 1940. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in April 1941, he was assigned to Clark Field in the Philippines, where he fought with the First Provisional Air Regiment after the destruction of U.S. aircraft on the ground during the Japanese invasion. Captured on Bataan in April 1942, he endured the Bataan Death March and imprisonment at Cabanatuan and later Davao. On September 7, 1944, while being transported aboard the Japanese freighter Shinyo Maru, Charles was killed when the ship was torpedoed by the USS Paddle. Survivors testified that he never lost his faith in captivity, assisting at Mass and building places of worship to sustain his fellow prisoners. He was posthumously declared killed in action in February 1945 and is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery. James Joseph O’Neil 1921?1945 Charles’s younger brother James was born September 8, 1921. After three years of science studies at Iowa State College, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in April 1942, earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant in April 1943. Assigned to the Pacific, James flew 182 combat missions and logged 450 combat flying hours over Australia, New Guinea, Biak, Leyte, and Mindoro. He was credited with downing three Japanese aircraft and was decorated with the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Returning to the United States in February 1945, he served as an instructor in California before being killed in a P-38 accident near Riverside on June 14, 1945, at the age of 23. This offering includes the Purple Heart document presented to the parents of Charles O’Neil, commemorating his sacrifice as a prisoner of war who perished on the Shinyo Maru. Also included is the accolade for his brother James, who despite his extraordinary combat record and ultimate sacrifice did not receive a Purple Heart. Together, the O’Neil brothers embody the profound sacrifice made by American families during World War II. Their courage in combat, endurance in captivity, and devotion to duty stand as a testament to the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces.
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