PORTLAND – Martin (Joe) J. O’Brien, 76, of Augusta, died Wednesday, June 28, at Maine Medical Center, as a result of heart complications.

He was born in Boston, Mass, on April 21, 1930, the son of Martin (Matt) O’Brien and Ellen (Ellie) O’Brien. He graduated from Boston English School in 1947, and from Bliss College in 1958. He attended the University of Maine Extension from 1959 to 1960.

He joined the regular Army, the First Cavalry Division (Armor) in 1948. He served in Japan from 1949 to 1950, and served honorably in the Korean War from 1950 to 1951.

After the war he transferred to the Continental U.S. HQ First Army until 1952, and served in Germany for the 17th Signal Battalion until 1953. In 1955, he joined the Active Army Reserve and in 1965, he joined the Active Naval Reserve until 1974. He was the recipient of many medals and citations, too numerous to mention, for his dedication and devotion to his country.

As a civilian, Marty worked for the United States government for the Department of Army from 1957 to 1965, and the Department of Treasury until 1974. He then moved to Washington D.C. and worked for the Department of Energy, until his retirement in 1985. Upon retirement, he return to Maine and worked for Community Service Communications Inc. in Winthrop.

He was a life-long member of the First Cavalry Division Association the American Legion and the Korean War Veterans Association. He was a former member and a memorial committee member of the Burton-Goode – Sargent Chapter, builders of the Maine Korean War Memorial in Bangor. He was founder and past president of the CPL Clair Goodblood (MOH) Chapter in Augusta, builders of the CPL Clair Goodblood Medal of Honor Memorial in Burnham.

He was the author of “The Korean War: Forgotten Soldiers of a Forgotten War.No Longer Forgotten,” “Above and Beyond The Call Of Duty” and “The CPL Clair Goodblood Story.” He will be sadly missed by all that knew him.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Simonne O’Brien of Augusta; two daughters, Patty Matthews of Winthrop and Kathy Walker and husband, Greg, of Winthrop; two sisters, Eileen Collins and Sheila Dion of Marshfield, Mass.; five grandchildren, Marty Matthews and wife, Shana, of Lewiston, Angie Matthews of Winthrop, Jeff Matthews and wife, Feather, of Monmouth, Michael Nelbach of Augusta and Jennifer Nelbach of Winthrop; and one great-grandchild, Darius Dunn of Winthrop.