"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty. On 15 August 1944, Sgt. Connor, through sheer
grit and determination, led his platoon in clearing an enemy vastly
superior in numbers and firepower from strongly entrenched positions on
Cape Cavalaire, removing a grave enemy threat to his division during the
amphibious landing in southern France, and thereby insured safe and
uninterrupted landings for the huge volume of men and materiel which
followed. His battle patrol landed on "Red Beach" with the mission of
destroying the strongly fortified enemy positions on Cape Cavalaire with
utmost speed. From the peninsula the enemy had commanding observation
and seriously menaced the vast landing operations taking place. Though
knocked down and seriously wounded in the neck by a hanging mine which
killed his platoon lieutenant, Sgt. Connor refused medical aid and with
his driving spirit practically carried the platoon across several
thousand yards of mine-saturated beach through intense fire from
mortars, 20-mm flak guns, machine guns and snipers. En route to the
Cape he personally shot and killed 2 snipers. The platoon sergeant was
killed and Sgt. Connor became platoon leader. Receiving a second wound,
which lacerated his shoulder and back, he again refused evacuation,
expressing determination to carry on until physically unable to
continue. He reassured and prodded the hesitating men of his decimated
platoon forward through almost impregnable mortar concentrations. Again
emphasizing the prevalent urgency of their mission, he impelled his men
toward a group of buildings honeycombed with enemy snipers and
machine guns. Here he received his third grave wound, this time in the
leg, felling him in his tracks. Still resolved to carry on, he
relinquished command only after his attempts proved that it was
physically impossible to stand. Nevertheless, from his prone position,
he gave the orders and directed his men in assaulting the enemy. Infused
with Sgt. Connor's dogged determination, the platoon, though reduced to
less than one-third of its original 36 men, outflanked and rushed the
enemy with such furiousness that they killed 7, captured 40, seized 3
machine guns and considerable other materiel, and took all their assigned
objectives, successfully completing their mission. By his repeated
examples of tenaciousness and indomitable spirit Sgt Connor transmitted
his heroism to his men until they became a fighting team which could not
be stopped."
From Sgt. Connor's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on March 15, 1945.
Connor's memorial in New Castle County, Delaware.
Thank you for your service and may you be at peace,
Brian
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