Second Lieutenant Sean P. O’Connor was born in Chicago, Illinois. From the age of 18 months, Virginia was his home. He grew up as an outstanding athlete on the soccer, baseball, and football fields of Northern Virginia. He was a parishioner of St. Michael’s Church in Annandale and Church of the Nativity in Burke. He attended Fairfax County Public Schools and was a 1999 graduate of Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School in Arlington.

O’Connor enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 24, 2000. Upon graduating from Infantry One Station Unit Training, he served as an infantryman at Fort Lewis, Washington, and Germany. During 2002-03, he attended the West Point Preparatory School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, with distinction. On June 24, 2003, he was honorably discharged from the Army and immediately re-entered the Army as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He excelled scholastically in the top 10 percent of his class, achieving the Dean’s List. He was co-captain of the West Point Judo Team and was an outstanding and dedicated black belt competitor. On May 26, 2007, he realized his dream and graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence branch. He was assigned to the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion at Hunter Army Air Field.

O’Connor deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom V/VI. Upon redeployment, he assumed his duties in the battalion and was preparing himself and his section for future combat operations in support of the Global War on Terror.

He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on November 3, 2008.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Expert Infantry Badge.

O’Connor is survived by his wife Marissa and daughter, Kylie of Waipahu, Hawaii. His memory will forever be cherished by his mother Julia DuPrey, sister Amanda, brother Kevin, grandmother Julia of Burke, his father Terence and sister Desirae of Cass Lake, Minnesota, and his stepfather James of Alexandria. Sean O’Connor is predeceased by his hero and inspiration, his grandfather Armando G. Romero of Burke and his grandparents Robert and Rubie O’Connor, Cass Lake, Minnesota.