Born on November 28, 1861, in Portsmouth, Virginia, O'Conner joined the Navy from that state.

On that night, while Jean Sands was outside the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, he and another sailor, Landsman William Sweeney, jumped overboard and rescued a young girl from drowning.

For this action, both O'Conner and Sweeney were awarded the Medal of Honor four years later, on October 18, 1884.

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.

[1]O'Conner died on September 17, 1940, at age 78 and was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth.