Edward O'Grady II
Encyclopedia
Edward O'Grady II was born in Nyack, New York
. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps
and served two tours of service in the Vietnam War
. O'Grady joined the Nyack Police department after his discharge and also worked as a volunteer fire fighter with the Nyack fire department. In 1976, O'Grady was promoted to sergeant
, the youngest person in the history of Rockland County, New York
to achieve that rank. At the time of his death, he was enrolled at St. Thomas Aquinas College
and was close to receiving his bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He was survived by his wife and three children. His son, Edward J. O'Grady III, went on to join the United States Navy
, graduating from the United States Naval Academy
in 1997.
During the 1981 robbery
of a Brinks armored car
by members of the Black Liberation Army
and Weather Underground
, O'Grady was shot several times with an M16. Ninety minutes later, he died on a hospital operating table.
Nyack, New York
Nyack is a village in the towns of Orangetown and Clarkstown in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of South Nyack; east of Central Nyack; south of Upper Nyack and west of the Hudson River, approximately 19 miles north of the Manhattan boundary, it is an inner suburb of New...
. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and served two tours of service in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. O'Grady joined the Nyack Police department after his discharge and also worked as a volunteer fire fighter with the Nyack fire department. In 1976, O'Grady was promoted to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, the youngest person in the history of Rockland County, New York
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
to achieve that rank. At the time of his death, he was enrolled at St. Thomas Aquinas College
St. Thomas Aquinas College
St. Thomas Aquinas College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Rockland County, New York that occupies a forty-eight acre campus. Located at 125 Route 340 in Sparkill, New York, the college is named after the medieval philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas...
and was close to receiving his bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He was survived by his wife and three children. His son, Edward J. O'Grady III, went on to join the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, graduating from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1997.
During the 1981 robbery
Brinks robbery (1981)
The Brink's robbery of 1981 was an armed robbery committed on October 20, 1981, which was carried out by Black Liberation Army members; including Jeral Wayne Williams , Donald Weems , Samuel Smith, Nathaniel Burns , Cecilio "Chui" Ferguson, Samuel Brown ; several former members of the Weather...
of a Brinks armored car
Armored car (valuables)
A common meaning of armored car is as an armored van or truck, used in transporting valuables, such as large quantities of money . The armored car is a multifunctional vehicle designed to protect and ensure the well being of the transported individuals and/or contents...
by members of the Black Liberation Army
Black Liberation Army
The Black Liberation Army was an underground, black nationalist-Marxist militant organization that operated in the United States from 1970 to 1981...
and Weather Underground
Weatherman (organization)
Weatherman, known colloquially as the Weathermen and later the Weather Underground Organization , was an American radical left organization. It originated in 1969 as a faction of Students for a Democratic Society composed for the most part of the national office leadership of SDS and their...
, O'Grady was shot several times with an M16. Ninety minutes later, he died on a hospital operating table.