3/19/01 from J. Dewey O'Brien,
As for me, as you probably know from my book, my grandfather O'Brien was born in Ireland, taught school near Beulah and later at Bayou Scie in Sabine Parish. He apparently drowned in the Sabine R. while fishing just before my father was born. So my father was raised Methodist by my grandmother (your great grandmother, Mary Jane Knott Olive O'Brien Watson).

9/29/03 Self bio by J. Dewey O'Brien
Oh, heck, I might as well give a brief bio.
Born June 3, 1917, near Marthaville, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana (and Beulah church) but nearer a newer Bapt. church named Crossroads.
Went to school thru the first 6 grades in covered wagon drawn by two mules (Bert and Red) to Marthaville School.
Went to what is now Northwestern State University in Natchitoches but only had tuition scholarship.
After some hard times about which I will not cry on your shoulder Dad enrolled me in CCCs (eighteen months).
Short stint in biz sch.; saved some money; hitchhiked all over west, including SLC up to Seatle, then down to Louisiana
Road back mostly by hopping freights.
Just before war joined Navy. Served mostly on staff of Rear Adm. Calvin T. Durgin; served in Medit.; then across country to pick up four carriers in San Diego.
Actions: last part of Leyte Gulf; then covered Lingayen Gulf where I like to say I helped free Neoma's uncle from Santo Tomas prison camp; then Iwo Jima; Okinawa where we were hit by kamikaze; then home ...not to west coast naturally but thru the canal and on to NY on the battleship NY...met by bands on boats singing "Gonna take a sentimental Journey". N. O. by train then home.
Wanted more sciences so went to Vanderbilt University to study under Dr. Breckinridge who had been part of the Oak Ridge atomic project.. then back to Northernwestern, then to LSU law school.
Private practice Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana; then to Dept of Justice as a trial attorney with trials literally from Maine to California.
Had grand jury in Little Rock during "the troubles" during Eisenhower admin; same in Oxford, Mississippi under Kennedy.
Servied as legislative liaison with Congress; became Deputy Ass't Attorney General..
Retired later...private practice in DC..now fully retired.
As the cartoon says: Thaaaat's aaaal folks...for tonight anyway JDOB