James F. O'Conner

Dived overboard at night to save a girl from drowning below.

James Francis O’Conner was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, on 28 November 1861. He entered the United States Navy from Virginia and served as a landsman in the engineer’s force aboard USS Jean Sands.

On the night of 15 June 1880, the vessel was opposite the Norfolk Navy Yard when a young girl fell into the water. O’Conner jumped overboard to help save her. Another landsman, William Sweeney, also took part in the rescue. Their action brought the girl out of immediate danger and later received the Navy’s highest recognition for personal bravery.

O’Conner’s Medal of Honor was authorized under General Order 326 of 18 October 1884, more than four years after the rescue. The award belonged to the nineteenth-century Navy practice of recognizing exceptional lifesaving acts as well as courage in combat.

O’Conner lived until 17 September 1940, when he died in Portsmouth. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, where his surname appears as O’Connor.

Official Medal of Honor citation:

For jumping overboard from the U.S.S. Jean Sands, opposite the Norfolk Navy Yard, on the night of 15 June 1880, and rescuing from drowning a young girl who had fallen overboard.