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ALBANY, N.Y. - What: Farewell ceremony for Soldiers in the Army Reserve’s 7th Legal Operations Detachment and 865th Combat Support Hospital
Where: Maj. James J. O’Donovan Armed Forces Reserve Center, 90 North Main Avenue, Albany
When: Saturday, Aug. 2 at 2 p.m.
Who: Scheduled to speak during the ceremony are:
- U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko, representing New York’s 20th Congressional District
- The Honorable Kathy Sheehan, Mayor of Albany
- The Honorable George Primeau, Sr., Mayor of Cohoes
- Retired Col. John Kennedy, former student of Maj. O’Donovan
- James Unwin, grandson of Maj. O’Donovan
- Erwin Johnson, Survivor of the Bataan Death March
Background: The Maj. James J. O’Donovan Center has been the primary training site for United States Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps elements since its dedication in 1955. In 2007, the Navy and Marines’ transferred out of the center. The remaining U.S. Army Reserve units, the 865th Combat Support Hospital and the 7th Legal Operations Detachment, are scheduled to transfer to the new U.S. Army Reserve Center in Schenectady in September.
O’Donovan was born in Cohoes, New York, on Aug. 15, 1911. He entered the New York Army National Guard in 1927 and served until 1933, at which time he became a second lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps. O’Donovan entered active duty in January 1941 as an Infantryman. He died in military service as a prisoner of war in the Philippine Islands on Oct. 18, 1942 at the age of 31. O’Donovan was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and received the Distinguished Service Cross (the next highest award for valor after the Medal of Honor) for extraordinary heroism in combat while serving in the Philippines. O’Donovan also received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts.
The ceremony is scheduled to feature The La Salle Institute Honor Color Guard and Drill Team, where O’Donovan taught before World War II.
Media interested in covering the event should arrive at the center by 1:45 p.m. Please contact Lt. Col. Roburt Yale at 202-433-4495, or by e-mail at roburt.c.yale.mil@mail.mil to confirm attendance for the event or to receive more information and coordinate access.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.29.2014 13:05 |
| Story ID: | 137623 |
| Location: | ALBANY, NY, US |
| Hometown: | COHOES, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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