President Trump presented the Medal of Honor to the widow of Army Lt. Garlin Murl Conner during a June 26 White House ceremony.
“We did it, Murl. No more regrets,” said Pauline Connor as she accepted the award, in front of an audience that included their son Paul, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
According to official records, Connor exposed himself to enemy fire as he ran 400 yards toward a German battalion on Jan. 24, 1945, while carrying a telephone and the wire spool that provided connectivity to his comrades. Despite having an injured hip, Connor lay in a snowy ditch and used the phone to direct artillery toward the German position — while partially exposed to enemy fire. Because of his actions, 50 enemy soldiers were killed, another 150 were wounded, and several German tanks were destroyed.
Having already received four Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Distinguished Service Cross, Connor refused to apply for the Medal of Honor — even though his commanding officer urged him to do so.
After the war, he returned to his farm in Kentucky and continued to help fellow veterans get the benefits they merited.
In 1996, a soldier who reviewed Connor’s war record urged him again to apply for a Medal of Honor. By then he had become infirm, but agreed to have his family and friends do so. He died two years later.
The White House ceremony culminated that effort.