Joseph O'Brien

Joseph O’Brien is a Military History and Firearms Expert located in the Midwest. After receiving a B.A. in History, O’Brien has worked in the retail firearms business as well as branching out into militaria/firearms appraisal and movie armorer work. He has written on a wide variety of topics and eras, and is always looking to increase his knowledge and collections of militaria. O’Brien has been recognized nationally by organizations, including the Association of the United States Army, and multiple museums for his outstanding knowledge and passion for Military history.

Education B.A. History St. Norbert College

Military History, Firearms and Militaria Expert

Rockton, IL

@og1927a1 facebook.com/joe.obrien.716

Articles by Joseph O'Brien:

The American ‘Nazi party’ Grew to Disturbing Levels in the 1930s

Yes, there was a time in the 1930s when the Nazis were a political force not just in Germany but all over the world, including…

The A-1 Skyraider – Including the Toilet Bomb

The A-1 Skyraider was the last propeller-driven tail-dragger aircraft bought by the US Navy. One of the largest single engine aircraft ever built, the A-1…

The Many & Varied Weapons of the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was fought between firstly the French and Viet Minh guerrillas, then later between the US, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), and the…

Some of the Best Anti Tank Rifles

Tanks became the undisputed kings of the battlefield — lumbering steel boxes that crushed everything in their path while shrugging off machine gun and rifle…

Myths and Legends of the Iconic 1911

Pretty much anyone on the planet who studies firearms or military history has heard of the pistol known as the 1911. In continual service and…

Vietnam Free Fire Zones – Anything That Moved Within Was Attacked And Destroyed

The US military and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces in Vietnam faced a problem: how to successfully fight an enemy that…

An Interesting Question Did People Look Back at the Civil War The Way we Look at WW2 Today?

A question that is interesting to ponder is whether other eras looked at past conflicts the way we look at World War Two (WWII). After…

We Were Soldiers: 22 trips in & out of LZ X-Ray, Choppers Got Shot up so Bad he Had to Use 3 Different Ones

Most fans of war films have probably seen the movie We Were Soldiers, but did you know that hidden in that movie is a Medal…