John (Jack) Michael Oberg

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John "Jack" Michael Oberg, originally from Brooklyn, New York and Vero Beach, Florida, died peacefully at Chapel Pointe, Carlisle, where he resided with his wife, who died in November 2020.

He joined the U.S. Army at the outbreak of World War II and served as a front-line Combat Infantryman in the South West Pacific throughout the war. Assigned to the 169th Regiment of the 43rd Infantry Division (the "Winged Victory Division") under General Douglas MacArthur, Jack fought in major battles against the Japanese in the deadly jungles of the Northern Solomon Islands, New Georgia Island, New Guinea, and Luzon (Philippines). Jack returned home after enduring four years of intense combat, jungle diseases, and battlefield wounds.

During his World War II service, Jack was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic military action, the Purple Heart medal for wounds sustained in combat, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Battlefield Commission Medal, the World War II Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal (with five Battle Stars), the Presidential Unit Citation Medal, the Distinguished Unit Citation Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and other awards.

Most significantly, his Commanding Officer promoted him from the enlisted ranks to 2nd Lieutenant due to Jack's demonstrated leadership ability, bravery, and cool - headed judgement on the battlefield. By the end of the war, he was a highly decorated 1st Lieutenant who in later life seldom spoke of the war - or his role in it.

He was Honorably Discharged from the Army in 1946.

Jack is survived by his daughter: Patricia (John) Sabel of Carlisle; his granddaughters: Debra (Mike) Carlson of Kentucky and Christine (Basil) Moncrief of Virginia; his grandson: Douglas (Trang) Sabel of Virginia; his great-grandsons: Alexander and Calvin Sabel of Virginia; and, his brother: Wilbur.

John and Dorothy Oberg tombstone:

References

Last data update: Aug 24, 2025

Find A Grave internet website for grave markers, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225220191/john_michael-oberg Citation post date: 2025-08-24

Personal genealogical research information and notes provided by Nancy Lee (Hesselgesser) Sutton, Citation post date: 2006-08-17