We recognize the passing of a warrior, Thomas O'Brien.  He dedicated his life to service to his nation and to bettering his skills as a martial artist. He began his martial arts career in Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota and continued his training at university in a variety of martial arts.  He enlisted in the Marines, attended boot camp and then electronics training graduating as Telephone and Switchboard Repairman from Twentynine Palms California.

His first duty station took him to Okinawa Japan where he worked on the switchboards and systems that allowed the camps and bases across the island to communicate.  While there he pursued his love of martial arts by training directly with Kise Fuse Sensei, the head of the Kenshinkan Karate Organization. Tom was so dedicated and skilled as a black belt that Kise Sensei asked him to open a branch school on Camp Courtney, where Tom was living and working.  There Tom introduced several students to Shorinryu Karate and Kobudo, with a select few becoming higher ranked instructors themselves in the following years.  Tom also spent many hours diving off the reefs and beaches in Okinawa, an island that became like a second home to him.  Following extended tours there he reported to Camp Pendleton and joined the Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion of the First Marine Division, with whom he deployed to Kuwait and saw the first shots of Desert Storm.  Tom's military career was cut short by a knee injury, and he was medically retired as a Sergeant.

Following his time in uniform he worked as a senior technician in telecommunications and eventually found his way back to service in combat zones as a contracted employee in various security and telecommunications support roles.  Tom had high standards for himself and for those around him, which earned him few friends, but those who shared his standards he held dear.

He is remembered as a fiercely loyal friend, Marine, and Sensei attaining certification as a Shihan or master instructor.  He leaves behind a legacy of senior instructors who continue to practice and teach some of the tough lessons they learned from him.  He had a quick wit and a sharp sense of sarcasm that played well for the kind of men and women that would advance toward the sounds of battle, and it is those men and women who will miss him the most.  Semper Fi, and rest easy Tom, we have the watch.