Maurice Joseph O'Callaghan was born on December 27, 1946, in County Dublin, Ireland. He was the son of Joseph O'Callaghan. When he was nine, his family immigrated to a ranch in Lake City, Kansas. From there, they moved to Staten Island, New York, where his father was a clothing designer, and from there, to Linden, New Jersey in 1957. There he spent his final years and graduated from John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in 1966.

Maurice enlisted in the US Marines before high school graduation. He served in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, as a Private First Class during the Vietnam War. He was Killed in Action on April 21, 1967, in Danang, Vietnam, while part of a search and destroy mission. The area was known to be dangerous and the small battalion was overcome by enemy soldiers. O'Callaghan was serving as the battalion's radio operator. He radioed for help but was told it was too dangerous for any help to come before morning. By the time the rescue squad arrived, it was too late. O'Callaghan was killed by a sniper bullet to the leg. PFC O'Callagahn is now buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery and Crematorium, Harold's Cross, County Dublin, Ireland.

Source of information: www.facebook.com/NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum