O'CONNELL, THOMAS
Rank and Organization: Coal Heaver, U.S. Navy. Born: 1842, Ireland. Accredited
To: New York. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.
Citation:
On board the flagship U.S.S. Hartford, during successful attacks against Fort Morgan,
rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. Although a patient in
the sick bay, O'Connell voluntarily reported at his station at the shell whip and
continued to perform his duties with zeal and courage until his right hand was severed by
an enemy shellburst.