World War II Honoree

Dennis Gerald O'Connor, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jessup, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Wife, Children, Grandchildren

Relationship

Family

SERVED IN I COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 314 INFANTRY REGIMENT, 79TH DIVISION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. HIS UNIT SHIPPED OUT FROM SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND ON 13 JUNE 1944 AND LANDED AT UTAH BEACH THE SAME DAY. HE SAW ACTION AT CHERBOURG AND FORT DU ROULE, LA HAYE DU PUITS, AND THE BREAKTHROUGH AT ST. LO. BY LATE AUGUST THE DIVISION WAS NEAR MANTES-GASSICORT AND CROSSED THE SEINE INTO BELGIUM ON THE MORNING OF 2 SEPTEMBER 1944, MAKING THE 79TH DIVISION THE FIRST ALLIED DIVISION IN OCCUPIED BELGIUM. ACTION CONTINUED IN EASTERN FRANCE AT CHARMES AND THE MOSELLE, CROSSING THE MEURTHE, THE FORET DE PARROY, MANONVILLER AND THE BOIS LE REMABOIS, LUNEVILLE, AND THE SAVERNE GAP. HE WAS WOUNDED ON 18 NOVEMBER 1944 DURING THE 314TH REGIMENT'S ASSAULT ON FREMONVILLE. HE WAS TREATED AT THE 27TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL AND EVACUATED TO ENGLAND. HE WAS AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, THE PURPLE HEART, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, AND THREE BATTLE STARS.