Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
John
Lawrence
O’Donnell
November 16, 1883

–

May 11, 1929

Cemetery:

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery

John O’Donnell grew up in Chicago and received his early education at Park Side School, Saint Thomas School, Saint Ignatius High School, and De Paul College. He then attended Saint Viator’s College in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and then Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York. He received theological training at Saint Viator’s Seminary in Bourbonnais, and was ordained a Vincentian Catholic priest on May 13, 1911. He was commissioned in the Veteran Corps, 2d Illinois Infantry in 1916, and served on the Mexican border that year. He was commissioned a chaplain in the Regular Army on August 5, 1917. He served in Chicago, and then at Camp Logan in Texas, before going to France with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. He was wounded in France from a gas attack, and received the Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star, and was discharged from active duty on May 1919 as a captain, later retiring from reserve service as a major. In 1929 he was Pastor of Saint Ethelreda Church when he contracted pneumonia. Slow to recover, he travelled to Atlantic City for rest, and to convalescence, and died on May 11, 1929.

Awards Received

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain)

    Regiment:

    132d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    33d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    World War I
    War Department, General Orders No. 62 (1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to First Lieutenant (Chaplain) John L. O’Donnell, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Regimental Chaplain, 132d Infantry, 33d Division, Chaplain O’Donnell was ceaseless in his efforts to better the welfare of the men, and during the period of operations accompanied the attacking waved in every action in which the regiment took part. Exposing himself to artillery and machine-gun fire to care personally for the wounded, organizing parties of stretcher bearers, going without a thought of personal danger whenever he was needed, he set an example of courage and heroism, appreciably raising the morale of those with whom and for whom he worked.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    132d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    33d Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 6 – 10, 1918
    GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 8 (March 1, 1920)

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) John Lawrence O’Donnell, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain O’Donnell distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving as Regimental Chaplain, 132d Infantry Regiment, 33d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at Bois de Foret, France, 6 – 10 October 1918, in caring for the wounded under fire.