Bobby O’Brien was born in
Hoboken, New Jersey, one of 13 children of John Patrick and
Wilhemina O’Brien. In the middle of the ‘tribe’ as he fondly
called his family, he wanted to do something to ‘stand out’
instead of being ‘one of the crowd.’ With in a staunch,
Irish-Catholic family, he knew he needed to be an
individual, rather than go along with the crowd.
His father worked for the
railroad, often working 12-14 hours a day on the Railway
Express loading dock, in order provide for his large family.
His off-hours were spent at home, often sleeping. However,
when he did spend time with his family, he was a warm and
loving man, but the time he could give to the ever
increasing family was too little, as far as little Bobby was
concerned.
His brothers Bart and Frank were
the closest to him in age, and the three of them did almost
everything together, from delivering papers in the morning,
to serving Mass, to playing stickball on the street, with
their mother’s broomstick and a ‘pinkie’ ball. In his
family, his nickname was ‘Runt’, because he was the last of
the boys, and the shortest in stature. The rest of the boys
in the family were dark, tall and thin, and somehow, he was
dark, but short and stocky, compared to the leaner members
of his family.
He made his name in football, as
a tough, determined, little guy, often surprising his bigger
opponents with his speed and skill. He attended St. Bridget’s
grammar school, St. Michael’s High School in Union City, and
won a scholarship to St. Peter’s Prep, for academics. All
through his schooling, he looked beyond his world, longing
to ‘get out’ and get away from the ‘mile square city’. On
graduation he looked into all branches of the service, and
liked the Navy saying of ‘Join the Navy, and see the world’
so he signed up, and entered as an enlisted man.
His natural ease with challenges, and with
men immediately got him notice with his superiors. Soon he
found himself recommended to the Officer’s training program,
and quickly went from rating to ensign. Once in leadership
position, he earned the respect and admiration of many in
the way he took over situations, and made them successful.
After
serving six years in the Navy, he was introduced to Chip
Morton, as the Seaview's new Exec was in Norfolk,
checking details on the progress of 'Nelson's Folly'.
O'Brien had come to the shipyard to look at the boat, having
heard so much about it from a friend who was working on the
project. Although she was far from finished, Seaview
had captured his heart and imagination. He dreamed of one
day serving aboard her, although realistically he didn't
believe that it could ever happen. However, he made it his
business to keep track of the project's development, and
finally had been able to get to the shipyard to see her,
however unfinished she was.
It was, to
say the least, a fortuitous meeting. Morton was impressed
with the young officer, and brought him to Capt. John
Philips attention. Within a month, Lt. Robert O'Brien, found
himself in Santa Barbara, California, with a job on the
Seaview, when she was completed; temporary housing,
until the housing on the Institute grounds was completed,
and a commission in the Naval Reserves, as a Second
Lieutenant. He was assigned to assist Morton, until the boat
was finished, and then his berth would be that of Dive
Officer, serving as Second Officer in the chain of the
boat's command.
Bobby, as
he became known to the Senior Staff, developed into a
dedicated member of the crew, often, in the presence of
injuries or illness to Crane and/or Morton, taking command
of the boat, and on more than one occasion, successfully
completing a mission and bringing all hands safely home to
port.
On a
personal level, Bobby fell for a certain, much younger
officer in the Institute's staff. He kept his feelings to
himself, however, for many years, finally revealing his
feelings to her after particularly harrowing mission of
hers. From that time, the relationship blossomed, and they
did, eventually marry. |