Garlin Murl Conner

Called artillery on himself to stop a German assault

Garlin M. Conner earned the Medal of Honor for directing artillery against an overwhelming German attack near Houssen, France, on 24 January 1945. When enemy infantry closed around his exposed position, the first lieutenant called fire onto his own location rather than allow the assault to reach his battalion.

Serving as intelligence officer with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Conner had recently returned after recovering from a combat wound. That morning, approximately 600 German infantrymen, supported by six tanks and tank destroyers, attacked the American line.

Recognizing the danger, Conner volunteered to move forward and direct artillery against the advancing force. He ran approximately 400 yards through enemy fire, unreeling telephone wire to maintain contact with the battalion command post. Continuing beyond the American front line, he took shelter in a shallow ditch where he could observe the attack.

For three hours, Conner remained exposed to enemy fire while adjusting artillery onto the German formations. As the attackers approached his position, he requested fire directly onto himself. The resulting barrage broke the assault and helped prevent his battalion from being overrun. Conner survived.

Born on 2 June 1919 in rural Clinton County, Kentucky, Conner entered the Army on 1 March 1941. He spent 28 months on the front lines, participated in four amphibious assault landings and earned a battlefield commission during the fighting at Anzio. Army accounts record that he suffered seven combat wounds. His decorations included four Silver Stars, the Bronze Star Medal and the French Croix de Guerre.

Conner was honorably discharged on 22 June 1945 and returned to Kentucky. He married Pauline Lyda Wells, raised a son and worked their family farm. Together, he and Pauline also helped disabled veterans obtain their pension benefits.

He died in 1998, before the long campaign to secure recognition of his actions at Houssen succeeded. On 26 June 2018, Pauline accepted his posthumous Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump at the White House. The award upgraded the Distinguished Service Cross he had received for the same action.