"Judge Harvey G. "Jock" Odenbrett is survived by Birdie M. Odenbrett, their daughter Julie, grandson Matthew D. Simmons and cherished cat Sam. Further survived by many dear friends. Jock's ashes will be scattered over the Pacific Ocean from one of his beloved aircraft carriers. Judge Odenbrett was a graduate of Marquette Law School, Juris Doctor Degree, Judge Advocate General School, Principal Asst. City Attorney, U.S. Administrative Law Judge and Retired Captain of the U.S. Navy. Recipient of Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Purple Heart and the Lance P. Sijan Award. Member of State Bar of Wisconsin, Retired Officers Association, "Butch" O'Hare's VF-6 Fighter Squadron, Purple Heart Association, Tail Hook Association, The USS Hancock Association, VFW, Legion of Valor, Phi Chi Psi and Delta Theda Phi Fraternities and Elmbrook Church. The family wishes to thank the wonderful nurses and staff at Elmbrook Hospital and Franciscan Woods. Special thanks to Dr. Kurt Oesterling and the Rev. Douglas Schoen of Elmbrook Church.
An agressive leader in O'Hare's squadron aboard USS INTREPID, he attacked the IJN KATORI with such ferocity that it veered away from Jock's XO, George C Bullard, who was in the water nearby during the Feb. 1944 attack on Truk. He destroyed the ship's "Rufe" airplane, setting many fires aboard that drew the attention of the USS NEW JERSEY. During the attack, he dropped his empty belly-tank, which he thought made the KATORI believe it was under torpedo attack. Jock stayed with VF-6 and transitioned to the F4U "Corsair" as part of VBF-6 aboard USS HANCOCK.
Son of George A. and Eva P. Rasmussen Odenbrett.
As of 2/24/2016: Message from Mark Maxwell:O'Hare's VF-6:
The squadron is down to one surviving member, Capt. Sverre Odd Bach. We lost Sy Mendenhall, Alex Vraciu and Willy Callan in the past 3 years.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Harvey George Odenbrett, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron SIX (VBF-6), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against Truk on 16 February 1944. Flying wingman in a two-plane fighter section, Lieutenant Odenbrett and his section leader initiated a strafing attack against a Japanese cruiser outside the reef and, when his companion was shot down during the action, circled the downed pilot and dropped him a life raft. As the hostile cruiser turned toward the pilot in the water, he made five strafing runs on the ship to divert its fire toward himself and, although wounded time and again, succeeded in destroying a seaplane on the fantail and enabled his section leader to reach the safety of the reef. His gallant fighting spirit, dauntless airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
An agressive leader in O'Hare's squadron aboard USS INTREPID, he attacked the IJN KATORI with such ferocity that it veered away from Jock's XO, George C Bullard, who was in the water nearby during the Feb. 1944 attack on Truk. He destroyed the ship's "Rufe" airplane, setting many fires aboard that drew the attention of the USS NEW JERSEY. During the attack, he dropped his empty belly-tank, which he thought made the KATORI believe it was under torpedo attack. Jock stayed with VF-6 and transitioned to the F4U "Corsair" as part of VBF-6 aboard USS HANCOCK.
Son of George A. and Eva P. Rasmussen Odenbrett.
As of 2/24/2016: Message from Mark Maxwell:O'Hare's VF-6:
The squadron is down to one surviving member, Capt. Sverre Odd Bach. We lost Sy Mendenhall, Alex Vraciu and Willy Callan in the past 3 years.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Harvey George Odenbrett, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron SIX (VBF-6), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against Truk on 16 February 1944. Flying wingman in a two-plane fighter section, Lieutenant Odenbrett and his section leader initiated a strafing attack against a Japanese cruiser outside the reef and, when his companion was shot down during the action, circled the downed pilot and dropped him a life raft. As the hostile cruiser turned toward the pilot in the water, he made five strafing runs on the ship to divert its fire toward himself and, although wounded time and again, succeeded in destroying a seaplane on the fantail and enabled his section leader to reach the safety of the reef. His gallant fighting spirit, dauntless airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
"Judge Harvey G. "Jock" Odenbrett is survived by Birdie M. Odenbrett, their daughter Julie, grandson Matthew D. Simmons and cherished cat Sam. Further survived by many dear friends. Jock's ashes will be scattered over the Pacific Ocean from one of his beloved aircraft carriers. Judge Odenbrett was a graduate of Marquette Law School, Juris Doctor Degree, Judge Advocate General School, Principal Asst. City Attorney, U.S. Administrative Law Judge and Retired Captain of the U.S. Navy. Recipient of Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Purple Heart and the Lance P. Sijan Award. Member of State Bar of Wisconsin, Retired Officers Association, "Butch" O'Hare's VF-6 Fighter Squadron, Purple Heart Association, Tail Hook Association, The USS Hancock Association, VFW, Legion of Valor, Phi Chi Psi and Delta Theda Phi Fraternities and Elmbrook Church. The family wishes to thank the wonderful nurses and staff at Elmbrook Hospital and Franciscan Woods. Special thanks to Dr. Kurt Oesterling and the Rev. Douglas Schoen of Elmbrook Church.
An agressive leader in O'Hare's squadron aboard USS INTREPID, he attacked the IJN KATORI with such ferocity that it veered away from Jock's XO, George C Bullard, who was in the water nearby during the Feb. 1944 attack on Truk. He destroyed the ship's "Rufe" airplane, setting many fires aboard that drew the attention of the USS NEW JERSEY. During the attack, he dropped his empty belly-tank, which he thought made the KATORI believe it was under torpedo attack. Jock stayed with VF-6 and transitioned to the F4U "Corsair" as part of VBF-6 aboard USS HANCOCK.
Son of George A. and Eva P. Rasmussen Odenbrett.
As of 2/24/2016: Message from Mark Maxwell:O'Hare's VF-6:
The squadron is down to one surviving member, Capt. Sverre Odd Bach. We lost Sy Mendenhall, Alex Vraciu and Willy Callan in the past 3 years.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Harvey George Odenbrett, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron SIX (VBF-6), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against Truk on 16 February 1944. Flying wingman in a two-plane fighter section, Lieutenant Odenbrett and his section leader initiated a strafing attack against a Japanese cruiser outside the reef and, when his companion was shot down during the action, circled the downed pilot and dropped him a life raft. As the hostile cruiser turned toward the pilot in the water, he made five strafing runs on the ship to divert its fire toward himself and, although wounded time and again, succeeded in destroying a seaplane on the fantail and enabled his section leader to reach the safety of the reef. His gallant fighting spirit, dauntless airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
An agressive leader in O'Hare's squadron aboard USS INTREPID, he attacked the IJN KATORI with such ferocity that it veered away from Jock's XO, George C Bullard, who was in the water nearby during the Feb. 1944 attack on Truk. He destroyed the ship's "Rufe" airplane, setting many fires aboard that drew the attention of the USS NEW JERSEY. During the attack, he dropped his empty belly-tank, which he thought made the KATORI believe it was under torpedo attack. Jock stayed with VF-6 and transitioned to the F4U "Corsair" as part of VBF-6 aboard USS HANCOCK.
Son of George A. and Eva P. Rasmussen Odenbrett.
As of 2/24/2016: Message from Mark Maxwell:O'Hare's VF-6:
The squadron is down to one surviving member, Capt. Sverre Odd Bach. We lost Sy Mendenhall, Alex Vraciu and Willy Callan in the past 3 years.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant [then Lieutenant, Junior Grade] Harvey George Odenbrett, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron SIX (VBF-6), attached to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against Truk on 16 February 1944. Flying wingman in a two-plane fighter section, Lieutenant Odenbrett and his section leader initiated a strafing attack against a Japanese cruiser outside the reef and, when his companion was shot down during the action, circled the downed pilot and dropped him a life raft. As the hostile cruiser turned toward the pilot in the water, he made five strafing runs on the ship to divert its fire toward himself and, although wounded time and again, succeeded in destroying a seaplane on the fantail and enabled his section leader to reach the safety of the reef. His gallant fighting spirit, dauntless airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Gravesite Details
USNR Service Dates: Aug 1941 thru Jan 1979, Rank Capt
Family Members
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