World War II Honoree

Robert Conner

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Olivebridge, New York

Honored By

Aggie Conner

Relationship

Loving Wife

JOINED THE NAVY IN FEBRUARY 1942. ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNED TO THE NEW CONSTRUCTION CREW OF THE USS O'NEILL DE-188 AND WAS A PLANK OWNER FOR COMMISSIONING ON DECEMBER 6, 1943. AFTER SHAKEDOWN, THE USS O'NEILL PERFORMED CONVOY ESCORT DUTY IN THE ATLANTIC FOR 10 MONTHS. BY DECEMBER 1944, SHIP WAS IN THE PACIFIC UNDER ADMIRAL HALSEY'S 3RD FLEET. JOINING TASK GROUP 30, THE USS O'NEILL PARTICIPATED IN THE LUZON, LINGAYEN BEACH INVASION ON JANUARY 9, 1945. BY FEBRUARY 1945, THE SHIP WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 5TH FLEET AND PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA ON FEBRUARY 24, 1945. BY MID-MARCH 1945, THE USS O'NEILL WAS IN MILNE BAY, NEW GUINEA MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE OKINAWA INVASION PLANNED FOR APRIL 1, 1945. THE JAPANESE KAMIKAZE THREAT AT OKINAWA WAS INTENSE AND AFTER USS O'NEILL SHOT ONE DOWN ON MAY 2, 1945, SHE HERSELF BECAME A TARGET ON MAY 25, 1945. SEVERAL MEN WERE KILLED IN ACTION AND MANY WERE WOUNDED IN ACTION. BY JUNE 1945, THE USS O'NEILL RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND SAN PEDRO SHIPYARDS FOR BATTLE DAMAGE REPAIRS WHERE SHE REMAINED UNTIL WAR'S END. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 1 STAR, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND COMBAT ACTION RIBBON.