Joseph M O'Connor

Pfc Joseph O'Connor was killed in action on 06 June 1944, serving with Company A, 299th Engineer Combat Battalion. On the morning of June 6, 1944, the 299th Engineer Combat Battalion went ashore on Omaha Beach in eight assault demolition teams, tasked with blasting clear lanes through the enemy's underwater obstacles so landing craft and troops could get in. Beginning at 0633, the men worked under relentless mortar and artillery fire, and within roughly an hour had already blown five of their eight assigned gaps, continuing the dangerous work of clearing obstacles into the afternoon and beyond as the surrounding infantry fought to break free of the beach. That night the battalion's command post, by then relocated to high ground near Colleville-sur-Mer, came under strafing attack from enemy aircraft. The battalion's losses over these opening days of the invasion were severe, and its actions on D-Day later earned it the Presidential Unit Citation. Pfc O'Connor was killed in action that day; the report does not specify the individual circumstances.