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Show DR. D. S. O'CONNOR VETERANS' FRIEND Veterans of the World war who havs suffered as a result of having beet gassed, blinded, crippled or afflicted with tuberculosis or other ills while in the service have a staunch friend in Dr. Denis S. O'Connor of Waterbury, Conn. In recognition of his splendid work in their behalf Doctor O'Connoi has just been appointed vice chairman of the American Legion rehabilitation committee in the Second district, including in-cluding the states of New York, Connecticut Con-necticut and Xew Jersey. Needs of these disabled men have been a constant care of Doctor O'Connor. O'Con-nor. His first active work in their behalf was as a member of the relief and service committee of Corporal Coyle post of Waterbury. In that capacity ca-pacity he got an insight at first hand into what he believed to be gross injustices in-justices in the treatment of the men by the United States veterans' bureau. bu-reau. He had spent much time and effort In fighting through claims which had been rejected, as he thought, unjustly, by the veterans' bureau. In 1923 he was elected service officer of his post. His efficient and self-sacrificing work In that position led to his recent appointment. ap-pointment. Doctor O'Connor was instrumental in having introduced into congress a x Dr. Denis S. O'Connor. bill to allow former service men who develop Insanity or tuberculosis a longer period in which to file claims for government compensation and care than was then allowed. This object ob-ject was attained by the passage of the Reed-Johnson bill at the last session ses-sion of congress. Hailing from Biddeford, Me., Doctor O'Connor is a graduate of the high school there. After attending the University Uni-versity of Maine and Bowdoin college he graduated from Bowdoin Medical school In 1919. He had sought admission to the Plattsburg training camp. He was refused re-fused a recommendation for admission because he had already specialized training in medicine. Pie was told to continue that work. He then enlisted in the navnl reserve force. Before he was called to the colors he was sent by the United States health service Into northern Maine to fight the Influenza Influ-enza epidemic which was raging there. After completing his work in Maine he reported at the First Naval district headquarters at Boston and was sworn Into service. He was ordered to Portland, Port-land, Me., where he was released from active bervice in December, 1918. He was commissioned a lieutenant, junior grade, in the medical corps of the navy in December, 1922. |