Richard James “Dick” O'Malley was born on June 1912, in Kingston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Michael Aloyisious O'Malley and Sarah McAndrew O'Malley. He was the husband of Vera Mae Evans O'Malley. After graduating from PMC in 1938, Richard O’Malley enrolled in Harvard's Graduate School of Business but left to join the military in 1940 as World War II approached. He became the commander of H Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, part of the 4th Infantry Division.

On D-Day, O'Malley saw his first combat as his regiment spearheaded the invasion of the Cherbourg Peninsula. Despite being dispersed upon landing, the unit regrouped and advanced inland, engaging in fierce fighting at Neuville-au-Plain. When the battalion commander was wounded, O'Malley took command, leading his men in several successful assaults, including capturing enemy pillboxes with tank support.

After Cherbourg's fall, O'Malley’s battalion fought elite German SS grenadiers and paratroopers in the Normandy hedgerows. Though wounded twice, O'Malley continued leading from the front. Tragically, just hours before his unit was to be relieved on July 16, 1944, he was killed by a sniper. Major O'Malley is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. He was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star.

Source of information: pennsylvaniamilitarycollege.org