'It's a calling. If you have it, you answer it': Three generations dedicated to serving America

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- As a Marine who served during the Vietnam war, there are many memories burned into Bill O'Sullivan's mind, but one of the most meaningful happened right here in The Woodlands on July 3, 1993.

"We went to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion for the Star Spangled Salute," Bill said. "At the end, after the service songs had been played and as we were exiting, a woman who noticed that I had stood for the Marines Hymn tapped me on the shoulder and said 'thank you for your service.' This was the first time those words were said to me, even though I had returned from Vietnam 22 years before. I still can't tell that story without getting a catch in my throat. That night, I knew Texas was my home."

Originally from New York, Bill was a college student when he voluntarily left his studies behind to join the Marines in 1968.

After making it through boot camp at Parris Island, Bill went to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina where he became a basic Infantryman, 0311. He was selected for Officer Candidate School, commissioned and then sent to Camp Pendleton to become an Air Traffic Control Officer. His Commanding Officer was in charge of air control operations during the siege of Khe Sanh, when the People's Army of North Vietnam bombarded a U.S. Marine garrison. It became one of the longest battles of the Vietnam War.

"I was eventually sent to Vietnam," Bill said. "I found myself subject to the occasional rocket and mortar attacks. Since these are mainly shot in your general direction rather than aimed just at you, I like to say that rather than being personal, it was more 'to whom it may concern.' I guess you could consider that combat."

Bill received his honorable discharge after returning from overseas, settling into a career in the insurance industry. In 1992, he moved to The Woodlands.

Captain Connor O’Sullivan

Bill's son Connor graduated from The Woodlands High School in 2009 and received an NROTC scholarship to Texas A&M University.

"I told my son, the country is always going to need people who are willing to walk into dark alleys, walk into burning buildings," Bill said. "If he wanted to do that, I would help him do it. But I didn't want him to do it because of me or his grandfather."

Connor wanted to do it, and deployed twice, to the Balkans and Africa. He is currently in California, commanding a training company of 400 Marines who rotate every six weeks.

Last year, Bill and his wife Lynn flew to California to watch as Connor officially received the rank of Captain -- the third member of the O'Sullivan family to do so.

Captain William Joseph O’Sullivan

Bill's father, William Joseph O'Sullivan, was a New York police officer. Because of his occupation, he was deferred from the WWII draft, but he voluntarily enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1943.

William was a pilot during the war, and eventually became a flight instructor based out of Pensacola, Fla., where he taught Marine and Navy pilots. One of William's most well-known students was former MLB player Ted Williams, who flew during WWII and the Korean War.

William O'Sullivan eventually reached the rank of Captain. At the end of the war, he returned to the NYPD and served in the Marine Corps Reserve.

"That's where I got my first experience with it," Bill recalled. "I was 11-years-old and got to go visit a huge military base in North Carolina with my dad. It made a pretty strong impression."

Bill said his father passed away six years before Connor went to college, but is certain he would be honored by his family's military commitment.

"My dad was always proud of me," Bill said. "And he would be proud of Connor too. Marines are all brothers and sisters. Next year, I will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of my commissioning in New York with many brothers that were commissioned with me that day. We served, we came back, and we still serve."

With that in mind, Bill encourages all residents to take a few moments this Veterans Day to honor those who have served and appreciate those who are currently serving.

"At some point in a veteran's life, they signed a contract that guarantees everything including their lives to fulfill it," Bill said. "When you see anybody in the service, thank them. For God's sake, just thank them."

For information about Veterans Day in The Woodlands area, visit our Veterans Day Guide.