The memorial is located on the north end of Trinity Park along West 7th Street. It occupies approximately five acres of park. » Get Directions
Hours of Operation
5:00am - 11:30pm
The displays and paths are always
illuminated.
By Mail
3801 Hulen Suite 101
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
By Phone
817-870-2171
Thomas J. O'Brien
Age:
47
Length of Service:
15 Years
Location of Incident:
Hemphill at Pennsylvania
Date of Injury:
Nov. 5, 1939
Date of Death:
Nov. 5, 1939
Burial:
Rose Hill Cemetery
Summary:
Thomas J. O'Brien was one of two firefighters killed when they were thrown from the rear of a fire truck by the force of a collision with an automobile at the intersection of Hemphill and Pennsylvania. The truck, which was headed north, was struck at the rear by the automobile, which was headed east.
O'Brien was found 30 feet from the point of the collision in the driveway of a filling station. He had suffered massive head injuries.
Tributes
Ellen Page
2009-05-27 15:01:38
I was only 13 years of age when my family lost a very special member...my Uncle Tommy...who passed away on November 5,1939.The tragic accident that took his life and fellow firefighter,V. M. Murphy was rememberd by my family as long as they lived. There are so many memories, dating back to the late 1920\\\'s and 30\\\'s. Uncle Tommy was a very special member of the O\'Brien family which included his older brother John and wife Mattie; my brother Jerry and me. Being a bachelor for most of his 47 years, he spent many \"off-duty\'\' hours at our home on Ave G. in the Polytechnic Hts area of Ft. Worth. He enjoyed our Mom\'s home cooking...Jerry and I enjoyed playing card games and dominoes with him. He also told some great stories about his mother\'s life in Ireland...of course, he always added some wild and scarey endings...which delighted him to notice our strange reactons! Some afernoons he would take us by the FireStation and visit with the crew that were on duty... they were so friendly and informative about each factor of their daily routine...we would eagerly accept their invitation to have lunch...I especially got a kick as I watched them slide down the pole from their living quarters upstairs. Those were wonderful days! Then came the day in early 1939 when Uncle Tommy announced that he was getting married...Wow... what a shock! We were delighted and thrilled that we were going to add a new member to our family! She was beautiful and she had to be very special to \'catch the eye\" of Uncle Tommy! Happiness seem to be everywhere...then the call that changed everything...Uncle Tommy was gone... Station 6 was on their way to a blaze at Queen City Box Company at 519 Jennings Avenue... sadly, they never reached their destination...a car rear-end the back of the truck, sending both men to their eternity. In grief, we were joined by many family members of fireman who were always there to comfort us in the time of need. I shall always be grateful for all the love that blessed our family...many of them are no longer with us, but there are always others that are ready to step forward and offer \"a hand of hope\". Members of my family have now passed away;I am now 82 years old,but those fresh in my mind;I still honor- Jerry M. O\'Brien..my grandfather..1850\'s Ft. Worth Fire Dept. Thomas J. O\'Brien..1930\'s..Ft. Worth Fire Department John Martin O\'Brien..father..Ft. Worth Fire Dept...passed away in 1956
