Tim O'Brien

Birth of Tim O'Brien

Oct 1, 1946

O'Brien was born in Austin, Minnesota,a city of about 20,000.

Graduation from College

Jun 5, 1968

He graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Tour of Duty in Vietnam

Apr 5, 1969

He was drafted into the United States Army and was sent to Vietnam, where he served from 1968 to 1970 in 3rd Platoon, Company A, 5th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Division. O'Brien's tour of duty was 1969 to 1970. He served in the division that contained a unit involved in the infamous My Lai Massacre. O'Brien has said that when his unit got to the area around My Lai (referred to as "Pinkville" by the U.S. forces), "we all wondered why the place was so hostile. We did not know there had been a massac