Weaponsman passes

| April 19, 2017

Stacy0311sends us the sad news that Kevin O’Brien, the founder of the WeaponsMan blog has passed. According to his brother;

Kevin graduated from high school in 1975 and joined the Army in (I believe) 1979. He learned Czech at DLI and became a Ranger and a member of Special Forces.

Kevin’s happiest times were in the Army. He loved the service and was deeply committed to it. We were so proud when he earned the Green Beret. He was active duty for eight years and then stayed in the Reserves and National Guard for many years, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2003. He told me after that that Afghan tour was when he felt he had made his strongest contribution to the world.

There were times that Kevin was my only friend on the internet, and I’m going to miss that. Take a knee, Kevin, your job on this earth is done.

Category: Blue Skies

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Nicki

So sad. 🙁

Veritas Omnia Vincit

That is a sad bit of news. Too many folks these days around 55-65 passing and these days that seems too young to me…

DefendUSA

Indeed, VOV. Martin has been gone barely six months and when people haven’t heard….the first words are…”So young…” 54. And I just think yup. Still not here, still not coming back. Our fortunes were many, so I move forward every day with all the love and grace I can muster.
I hope Kevin’s family can do the same.

RIP Kevin.

AW1 Tim

I nearly bought the farm at age 60, back in 2015. Had blood clots form over a short period of time and block 3 arteries almost completely, and when they did the images, found minor blockages in 3 more.

Long and short, 7 hour procedure to do 6 bypasses. But I survived and am still here. I have things to do, but I value each day as a gift. You just never know.

I thank God I had the foresight to sense that something wasn’t right and go to the ER and say so.

Hayabusa

Dude. I was just reading his blog the other day and appreciating his insights. I guess you never know when it’s your time. RIP.

justsayin

His kind words were a comfort in my own grief. He will be missed. Godspeed.

IDC SARC

RIP

Nick

So very sorry to hear this.

John D

Sorry for your loss Jonn.

Hognose was truly one of the good guys, and possibly one of the most prolific writers ever- I never could figure out how he could fill his days with so much, and provide so much content on his blog.

He will be missed.

For those who never heard of Weaponsman, take the time and read.
It won’t be there forever, and you will be enriched.

Godspeed Kevin.

2/17 Air Cav

I count it as my loss that this truly the first time, I believe, that I ever heard of him. I, too, am sorry for the loss of your friend, Jonn, and I offer my condolences. It sounds as if his life was well spent and that he lived it fully. None could ask for more, whatever age we leave.

Sparks

God rest you well Kevin and be with your family.

11B-Mailclerk

Oh fuck no…

Tony180a

So sorry to hear this. Kevin and I met while attending the Special Forces Operations and Intelligence course. O.B. was truly a good man. He was a Soviet Order of Battle SME. On more than one occasion he answered questions that stumped the Instructors but never in a smart ass way.

He had a wicked sense of humor and was our class cartoonist. He’d draw a cartoon relating to the subject matter being presented and it would get passed around the class back to the instructor who’d laugh his ass off! He’ll definitely be missed.

ex-OS2

Rest in Peace, Brother.

mattinnc

Weaponsman was a daily read for me.
Mr. O’Brien’s wit could be wielded with a sledgehammer and a scalpel and I always learned something reading his blog.

RIP Kevin O’Brien.