#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Thomas Robert Connors

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Master Chief Thomas Robert Connors. Thomas served in the United States Navy from 1954 to 1990.

Thomas joined the Navy in 1954. He was the first Storekeeper accepted into Submarine School.  He did one tour of Vietnam in 1967, one tour on the fast attack submarine USS Seadragon. Thomas did four tours on ballistic missile submarines, including the USS Woodrow Wilson, USS Lafayette, USS Kamahameha and USS Ulysses S. Grant. He did one tour hauling nuclear fuel rods to the submarine shipyard in Kittery, Maine.  Thomas also did one tour as a Navy Liasion to the General Electric plant in Schenectady, New York and one tour as a Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer of Naval Supply Systems Command.

In August of 1960, Thomas was part of the crew of the USS Seadragon when it became the first submarine to complete the Northwest Passage. The USS Seadragon then turned toward the North Pole and became the third submarine to surface there. The crew, including Thomas, set up a softball diamond, designating the pole as the pitchers box. The captain hit a fly ball at 4 p.m. on Wednesday that wasn’t caught until Thursday.

For his service, Thomas received the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and Vietnam medals.

Thomas is an active member at the United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated and is a volunteer at the Groton, Connecticut United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated club.

He lives in Connecticut with his wife Carol Ann and is the father of Michael, Kathleen, James, and Carol Lynn.

Thank you for your service, Thomas!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/his service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Graphic By Alexandra Craig: Alexandra Craig is an undergraduate senior at the University of San Francisco studying International Peace and Conflict Studies.