Name: Peter S. Connor
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: Company F, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF
Place: Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: South Orange, New Jersey
Born: 4 September 1932, Orange, New Jersey
Summary of Action
During a search and destroy operation in terrain riddled with enemy caves and tunnel complexes, Staff Sergeant Peter S. Connor led his platoon aggressively forward under intermittent Viet Cong small-arms fire.
Alert and constantly scanning the ground ahead, he spotted a concealed enemy spider hole approximately 15 meters to his front. Determined to eliminate the threat before it endangered his Marines, he pulled the pin from a fragmentation grenade and prepared to charge the position.
In that instant, he realized the firing mechanism had malfunctioned. Though he held the safety lever firmly in place, the fuse had already activated.
There was no time to reach the enemy emplacement. Throwing the grenade in any direction would almost certainly kill or wound Marines positioned nearby.
With only seconds remaining, Staff Sergeant Connor made his decision.
Pressing the grenade against his own body, he absorbed the full force of the explosion. Mortally wounded by the blast, he sacrificed his life to shield his fellow Marines from death or serious injury.
His deliberate act of selflessness saved lives and stands as one of the clearest expressions of leadership, courage, and devotion to others ever recorded on the battlefield.
Medal of Honor Citation
CONNOR, PETER S.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company F, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF.
Place and date: Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam, 25 February 1966.
Entered service at: South Orange, N.J.
Born: 4 September 1932, Orange, N.J.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against enemy Viet Cong forces at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Leading his platoon on a search and destroy operation in an area made particularly hazardous by extensive cave and tunnel complexes, S/Sgt. Connor maneuvered his unit aggressively forward under intermittent enemy small-arms fire. Exhibiting particular alertness and keen observation, he spotted an enemy spider hole emplacement approximately 15 meters to his front. He pulled the pin from a fragmentation grenade intending to charge the hole boldly and drop the missile into its depths. Upon pulling the pin he realized that the firing mechanism was faulty, and that even as he held the safety device firmly in place, the fuse charge was already activated. With only precious seconds to decide, he further realized that he could not cover the distance to the small opening of the spider hole in sufficient time, and that to hurl the deadly bomb in any direction would result in death or injury to some of his comrades tactically deployed near him. Manifesting extraordinary gallantry and with utter disregard for his personal safety, he chose to hold the grenade against his body in order to absorb the terrific explosion and spare his comrades. His act of extreme valor and selflessness in the face of virtually certain death, although leaving him mortally wounded, spared many of his fellow Marines from death or injury. His gallant action in giving his life in the cause of freedom reflects the highest credit upon the Marine Corps and the Armed Forces of the United States.
Name: Peter S. Connor
