Medal of Honor Books This series of books contains the citations for ALL Medals of Honor awarded to that branch of service, with brief biographical data and photos of many of the recipients. Some of them also include citations for other awards, analysis of awards, data tables and analysis and more. These are LARGE volumes, each 8 1/2" x 11" and more than 500 pages each. Click on a book to find it on Amazon.com where you can find more details on what is contained in each book, as well as to get a free preview. Each volume is $24.95. Heroes in the War on Terrorism NAVY    -  MARINES   -  AIR FORCE   - ARMY O.E.F.  - ARMY O.I.F. These books contain the citations for nearly all of the awards of the Silve Star and higher to members of each branch of service in the War on Terrorism. Books include photos of most recipients, some biographical data, analysis of awards by rank, unit, date, and more. ENCYCLOPEDIA of AMERICAN MILITARY HEROES With the 5 Medal of Honor volumes above, these compilations comprise a virtual 28-volume ENCYCLOPEDIA of decorated American heroes(15,000 pages)  with award citations, history, tables & analysis, and detailed indexes of ACEs, FLAG OFFICERS, and more. (Click on any book to see it in Amazon.com - $24.95 Each Volume) United States Army Heroes Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medals 1873 - 1941 Korea Vietnam 1862 - 1960 RVN - Present United States Navy Heroes Navy Cross Silver Star Navy Corpsmen 1915 - 1941 WWII Korea - Present WWII United States Marine Corps Heroes Navy Cross Silver Star 1915 - WWII Korea - Present 1900 - 1941 WWII 1947 - Korea Vietnam - Present WINGS OF VALOR The Defining Generation Visit My AUTHOR PAGE

News From The Past November 14, 2002

 

 

Dedicating a road to Honor

	Special to The News Journal/PAT CROWE II  Brothers Jeff (left) and Jim Connor unveil a new street sign Wednesday in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery near Glasgow named after their father, World War II hero and Medal of Honor winner James P. Connor.
	Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 475 fire a salute Wednesday at the veterans cemetery.
	George R. Taylor of VFW Post 475 plays taps at the Medal of Honor dedication Wednesday.
	Medal of Honor recipient James P. Connor, honored Wednesday, is the most recent of 14 Delawareans to receive the country's highest military decoration: World War II • William Lloyd Nelson Civil War • Alexander Hand • Charles B. Tanner • James Parke Postles • John B. Mayberry • Bernard McCarren • John Shilling III • Henry A. du Pont • David E. Buckingham • Samuel Rodmond Smith Indian campaigns • Griffin Seward War with Spain • Leonard Chadwick Philippine Islands • Charles H. Pierce

Delaware celebrates its latest Medal of Honor recipient by dedicating a road in his name 

By ROBIN BROWN 
Bear Bureau reporter

The main road of the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery near Glasgow was named Wednesday for the state's most recent recipient of the Medal of Honor, Army Sgt. James P. Connor.

Nearly 250 veterans, government officials, military leaders, friends and relatives gathered in the cold afternoon under an outdoor tent at the cemetery where flags marked every grave, including Connor's. The Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs played host at the event, praising Connor with speeches, recollections and the unveiling of a new road sign and state historic marker.

Cemetery administrator J.J. Jones said the sign and marker will be installed near the facility's pond.

Wilmington-born Connor earned his medal on a World War II battlefield, a Nazi-held beach in France being cleared for Allied troops' landing, according to a 1944 account. Seriously injured three times, Connor, then 25, led his outnumbered platoon after its officers were killed and shot two snipers himself.

Speaker Ron Gough, a veteran and historian who developed Dover Air Force Base's Medal of Honor exhibit with Connor's help, told how his inspiring friend became a national symbol as the war ended. After Connor's battlefield decoration, President Harry S. Truman invited him to the White House for personal thanks, said Gough, a state education spokesman.

Truman and Connor were visiting in the Oval Office when the German supreme commander called to surrender, Gough said. Truman then took Connor with him to announce to the world that the war was over.

Gough quoted Truman's answer as to why the Nazis gave up: "The reason they did this is because I threatened to send Jim Connor back to Europe."

Connor was Delaware's last and only living of 14 state Medal of Honor recipients. After his 1994 death, he became the only recipient buried in the state's veterans' cemeteries.

One of Connor's four sons, John of Bear, spoke Tuesday on behalf of his family.

He said he never understood his father's nickname, "Smiles."

"When we were growing up, we didn't see him smile once. He was always chasing us around the table," he said. "I think my brothers will attest to that."

Later, John Connor mulled how his father would have reacted to Wednesday's ceremony.

"He would say everybody was making a fuss over nothing, because that's the way he was," he said.

Reach robin brown at 838-3189 or mailto:rbrown@delawareonline.com

 

 

© 2002, by The News Journal ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HomeOfHeroes.com now has more than 25,000 pages of US History for you to view.