Hugh O'Connor

Colonel Hugh Thomas O’Connor, Sr., passed away at the family home on March 19, 2024, after eighty-eight years of service to the Lord and his family and 30 years of service to his country.

Born September 29, 1935, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, he was the second of four children. Col. O’Connor grew up in a tight-knit yet competitive family who played to win. Sports were big with the
family, and they played them all. After finishing high school in Augusta, GA, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with the class of 1959.
Col. O’Connor served his country as an active-duty Soldier for thirty years, including two tours in Vietnam. In addition to his responsibilities with Infantry, Airborne, and Special Forces units, he advised the Vietnamese Rangers. Col. O’Connor was wounded in combat and received numerous awards and decorations for valor that included a Silver Star for Gallantry in action earned while serving his second Vietnam tour with the Americal Division 2-1 Infantry. Col. O’Connor’s military service required that he, his wife, and his two children relocate 29 times to
various duty stations across the country over the course of his career. Career highlights included commanding the 2nd Battalion 327 Infantry 101st Airborne from 1977-1979 and his final assignment as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, NC.

Upon his retirement in 1988, Col. O’Connor and his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Helen Jacqueline (Pishinick) O’Connor, settled in Pinebluff, NC. Never being one to sit still for long, Col
O’Connor’s military retirement began as a Defense Contractor for the Army and included countless hours helping build homes with Habitat for Humanity. He and Jackie were faithful parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst, NC.

Col. O’Connor is predeceased in death by his parents, Charles and Mary O’Connor, and sister, Shelia (O’Connor) Lang (COL Vincent).

In addition to his wife, Col. O’Connor is survived by his daughter LTC Mary Ann O’Connor, his son LTC Hugh Thomas O’Connor, Jr. (Denise), his grandsons SSG Hugh Thomas O’Connor, III (Alexandra) and 1LT Clarke Patrick O’Connor (Amanda), his great-grandsons Clarke Austin O’Connor, Hugh Thomas O’Connor,IV, Jack Patrick O’Connor, and Baby Boy O’Connor (expected any day now), and his brothers COL Paul O’Connor (Marilyn) and COL David O’Connor (Linda), as well as several nieces and nephews and dear
friends.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, beginning at 11:30 in the Pinebluff Cemetery, 160 Sykes Rd, Pinebluff.

In lieu of flowers and casseroles, please consider making a donation in the Colonel’s name to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and/or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.