Alice Lord O'Brian

By Patrick Kavanagh
History of Women in Forest Lawn Lawn Cemetery

Section 8, Lot 170
Date of Death 12/30/1972.

Miss O'Brian was a member of the first contingent of American Red Cross workers to reach Paris, France, after America entered the War. She worked as the director of the Canteen of Two Flags (Le Cantina des Daux Drapeaux) at St.Germain-des-Fosses.

She was decorated twice by the French Government. Ms. O'Brian was the first American to receive the Medaille de la Reconnassance. She also was awarded the Medaille des Epidemies decoration usually reserved exclusively for nurses.

Her World War I letters home to her family in Buffalo formed the basis of a book which repudiated war. The letters were sent to her brothers, John Lord O'Brian, formerly the Assistant to the Attorney General of the United States, and the late Roland Lord O'Brian.

In the forward of her book No Glory, published in the mid 30's Ms. O'Brian explained a reluctance to make her private letters public. However, she explained, "But a new generation has grown up, apparently inclined to experiment with the same futility into which we all plunged a score of years ago, and it seemed to me that perhaps a few might find a deterring influence in the simple account of daily happenings in a background of grave events and profound tragedy."

During World War II she returned to serve the country, this time as Director of Officers at Home.

Ms. O'Brian was 92 years old at the time of her death.


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