This is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veteran.

SUBMITTED BY: Listener Gary Knight

CONNER, JAMES ORIN
SP4 U.S. ARMY  (SP4 is called a Spec 4)
VIETNAM
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/18/1947
DATE OF DEATH: 07/20/2001
Jim Conner is someone I rode with while we were both officers on the St. Louis City Police Department in the 1970s. While I was in the Army Reserves, I did not serve in Vietnam.

James Orin “Jim” Conner was born August 18th, 1947, in St. Louis.  He passed away on July 20th, 2001, at the age of 53.  He is buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County.  Before we joined the police department and before we met, Jim did two tours of duty in Vietnam.  

Jim was awarded the following service medals and commendations. They were: 1 Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars with "V" Device, several Army Commendation Medals, 39 Awards of the Air Medal, 2 with "V" Device (it is to be noted that a "V" Device is for valor), and 5 Purple Hearts, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Air Crew Wings.

He served as a light weapons infantryman in his first tour and as a helicopter crewman in his second tour on a small observation helicopter. He fought in the Ia Drang and A Shau Valleys campaigns.

His citation for the Silver Star Medal reads in part that when he was in combat, he was badly wounded when the helicopter that he was in crashed. He was ejected from the helicopter, and, under heavy enemy fire, he returned to the aircraft to pull the wounded pilot from the burning wreckage and held off the enemy until friendly forces could arrive.

James Conner is the most decorated member of the Armed Forces interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery for his unwavering acts of valor and service during the Vietnam War.

Following his service in the Army, Jim became a police officer on August 24th, 1970.  Jim was a highly decorated police officer with the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Jim was awarded the following prestigious awards: The department's highest award - the Medal of Valor on November 15, 1977, for unwavering heroism above and beyond the call of duty, the Meritorious Service Award on June 8, 1977, and two Chief's Letters of Commendation on December 4, 1981, and April 13, 1984, for police work above the call of duty.

Officer Conner is the "Audie Murphy" of the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Saint Louis.

I was not involved in an incident that occurred in the fall of 1976 at the Mansion House apartments in downtown St. Louis, however another officer I know was there.  He told me how they had a man with a gun inside the Mansion House, he had the officers pinned down, and he was shooting at them.  This officer, who told me the story, said how Jim Connor just  “low crawled” past him, took a position, and when the man refused to surrender, Jim took aim and shot the subject. Then Jim just took out a cigarette and lit it.  Like it was just another day at the office.

Officer Conner retired from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department on April 6, 1992. He had completed 21 years of faithful and dedicated service to the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department

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