Colonel John Bellis ODowd, United States Army (1956 2010)
Colonel John Bellis O’Dowd, United States Army retired passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 after succumbing to a heart attack while on a flight from Louisville Kentucky to Chicago, Illinois. John was 53 years old.
Colonel O'Dowd was born in Bergenfield, New Jersey. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point in 1978.
His most immediate prior assignment was Chief of Staff, US Military Staff Committee, J5/JCS, US Mission to the United Nations here in New York as Ambassador Bolton’s Military Advisor.
John was in command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan Engineer District from July 2004 to July 2005.
The Afghanistan District was responsible for a comprehensive infrastructure program for the reception and training of recruits, and subsequent stabilization of up to 70,000 soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army. The program included construction, rehabilitation and refurbishment of barracks, dining facilities, administration centers, clinics, motor pools, multipurpose training ranges, and support facilities. It also included construction of a military hospital, military academy, entrance processing station, and training center. The District is also building new facilities for U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and provided technical and mentoring support to USAID and other Federal agencies. In addition to serving as commander of the District, Colonel O'Dowd was also the Staff Engineer for Combined Force Command-Afghanistan. In this capacity, he oversaw all engineering activity for the Department of Defense including construction of roads, bridges and forward operating bases.
Prior to his position in Afghanistan, Colonel O'Dowd was the commander of the New York District where he oversaw the Corps' water resource development, navigation, and regulatory activities in northeastern New Jersey, eastern and south-central New York, including New York Harbor and Long Island, and parts of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. He accepted this posting in the months prior to the horror of the 9/11 attacks. He played an integral role during the heinous attack on our country, and is long remembered for calling up all the heavy earth moving machinery that the Army Corps of Engineers to commence rescue operations down at Ground Zero in Manhattan, and for the Corps’ boats to evacuate civilians from Manhattan over to Brooklyn, New Jersey and Staten Island. John and his engineers were on site helping coordinate the rescue and recovery effort. He also built the facility at the Fresh Kills Landfill to sift through the debris for human remains and personal effects.
He has served in numerous command and staff positions during his career including command of the 30th Engineer Battalion (Topographic) at Fort Bragg. He served as the Executive Officer for the Engineer Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea.
He was assigned as the Operations Officer (S-3) for the 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat) (Airborne Corps) during Operation "Uphold Democracy" in Haiti and also served as the Executive Officer, 30th Engineer Battalion (Topographic).
John’s early assignments include Operations Officer (S-3) for the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) and Commander of C Company, 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) at Fort Bragg were he participated in numerous operation in Central America. He has also served as the Deputy Director of Public Works at Fort Bragg and as an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
In 1989, Colonel O'Dowd earned a masters degree in Environmental Engineering as well as one in applied mathematics from John Hopkins University. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advance Courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College Fellowship at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Master Parachutist Badge.
Colonel O'Dowd is survived by his wife Francesca, his two daughters Elizabeth and Katie, his son Scott, as well as his brothers William and Daniel and his sister Kathryn.
The wake will be held at McLaughlin and Sons Funeral Home located at 9620 3rd Avenue Brooklyn, New York Saturday January 30 and Sunday January 31 2PM-5PM and 7PM-9PM each day. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Patrick’s Church 9511 4th Avenue Brooklyn, New York. John will be interred at the cemetery at the United States Military Academy, West Point.
Colonel O’Dowd’s service was notable in many ways. Below, MarEx subscribers can read two columns which mention him in a prominent way:
Click HERE to read “Moving Sacred Ground: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Oversee Sensitive Mission.”
Click HERE to read “Afghanistan Sept. 11 Ceremony Renews Purpose.”