World War II Honoree

Durrell Conner

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Honored By

Grateful American

YEOMAN 2ND CLASS, WAS ABOARD THE USS CALIFORNIA WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR, SERVING AS CRYPTOGRAPHER. HE RUSHED TO HIS BATTLE STATION WHERE HE DECODED MESSAGES. NO MESSAGES WERE COMING IN, SO HE JOINED A CHAIN PASSING AMMUNITION TO MARINES AND SAILORS FIRING GUNS ON THE DECK. TWO 500 POUND BOMBS HIT THE SHIP AND SANK IT. HE WAS ABLE TO SURVIVE THE ATTACK.