James John O’Shaughnessy was born on September 18, 1947, to Clement and Loretta O’Shaughnessy. His home of record is Closter, NJ. He had one brother, Tom, and two sisters, Margaret and Mary. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s School in Closter and St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, NJ. After high school graduation in 1965, he continued his education at Lincoln Technical, achieving a degree in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Fairleigh Dickinson University. He was interested in baseball and loved cars.
James was drafted into the US Army in 1968, where he attained the rank of Corporal (CPL/E3) and served as a paratrooper. He was assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
On March 24, 1969, O’Shaughnessy was part of an advanced observation party on a reconnaissance mission and wounded during the battle of Tuy Hoa in South Vietnam, Tay Ninh Province. He died the next day on March 25, 1969.
According to his sister, Margaret MacFarlane, “my brother had a terrific sense of humor. He was fun loving and was killed at 21 years old. He had just completed school when he was drafted.”
There is a street in Closter, NJ, named for James J. O’Shaughnessy.
Sources: Margaret MacFarlane (sister), various websites and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
