Gerard F Connelly was born on March 20, 1917 in Kings County, New York. He grew up, went to school, and married his bride Elsie. They had four children together. He was employed as a structural-and ornamental-metal worker.
PFC Connelly, Serial No. 6877571, enlisted on March 11, 1944 at Camp Upton Yaphan, New York. After completing basic training, he attended parachute jump school and advanced paratrooper training.
He enlisted with 4 children and a wife at home to serve in the US Army, 11th Airborne Division, 511th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment, Company C. He was KIA at 27 years of age in San Benito, Luzon Phillippines, taking on a machine gun nest and saving his squad. Killed by a sniper at the end of the conflict. There is a VFW Post named after him in Brooklyn, New York, Post #9485. 'Roddy' was loved by all his children; Linda, Gerard, Joseph, Irene, wife Elsie, family, and friends, who have never forgot him. (The previous paragraph written by Gerard's son Joseph)
History leading up to the ill-fated day of Gerard's loss:
On the 12th of April, 1945, the 511th was released to the 11th Abn. Div., and was immediately assigned a leading role in the forthcoming Malepuno operation. This mass of mountains rises out of the southern Luzon plane to a maximum height of 3160 feet and covers an area of approximately 30 square miles. It consists of razor-back ridges, precipitous slopes and rocky gorges. Rain forest covers valleys and peaks alike, except for the central east-west ridge, which was covered with kunai grass and bamboo tickets. The main ridge running north from the center of the mass is less heavily wooded and is the key to the central and northern sectors, since its peaks cover all other ridges. The Malepuno mass was defended by approximately 2000 remnants of the Japanese forces, of which the nucleus was the 17th Japanese Infantry, which were veterans of China and Manchuria. Most of the enemy positions had been previously prepared, so they had well-dug-lines, with supplies to last six months.
After two weeks spent in "feeling out" the enemy, the flanking prongs of the 511th attack began their advance at dawn of April 27. By night-fall of the 29th , the 511th was occupying all the high ground in its assigned sectors, plus one hill assigned to another regiment. The 511th suffered 12 killed and 70 wounded, in killing 451 defenders. PFC Gerard Connelly was one of those lost.
PFC Connelly's body was recovered and interred in the Manilla #2, temporary cemetery in the Philippines. Almost four years later his remains were returned home to New York, and interred in the Long Island National Cemetery on February 25, 1949. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for his bravery and sacrifice for his squad of fellow soldiers and country.
PFC Connelly, Serial No. 6877571, enlisted on March 11, 1944 at Camp Upton Yaphan, New York. After completing basic training, he attended parachute jump school and advanced paratrooper training.
He enlisted with 4 children and a wife at home to serve in the US Army, 11th Airborne Division, 511th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment, Company C. He was KIA at 27 years of age in San Benito, Luzon Phillippines, taking on a machine gun nest and saving his squad. Killed by a sniper at the end of the conflict. There is a VFW Post named after him in Brooklyn, New York, Post #9485. 'Roddy' was loved by all his children; Linda, Gerard, Joseph, Irene, wife Elsie, family, and friends, who have never forgot him. (The previous paragraph written by Gerard's son Joseph)
History leading up to the ill-fated day of Gerard's loss:
On the 12th of April, 1945, the 511th was released to the 11th Abn. Div., and was immediately assigned a leading role in the forthcoming Malepuno operation. This mass of mountains rises out of the southern Luzon plane to a maximum height of 3160 feet and covers an area of approximately 30 square miles. It consists of razor-back ridges, precipitous slopes and rocky gorges. Rain forest covers valleys and peaks alike, except for the central east-west ridge, which was covered with kunai grass and bamboo tickets. The main ridge running north from the center of the mass is less heavily wooded and is the key to the central and northern sectors, since its peaks cover all other ridges. The Malepuno mass was defended by approximately 2000 remnants of the Japanese forces, of which the nucleus was the 17th Japanese Infantry, which were veterans of China and Manchuria. Most of the enemy positions had been previously prepared, so they had well-dug-lines, with supplies to last six months.
After two weeks spent in "feeling out" the enemy, the flanking prongs of the 511th attack began their advance at dawn of April 27. By night-fall of the 29th , the 511th was occupying all the high ground in its assigned sectors, plus one hill assigned to another regiment. The 511th suffered 12 killed and 70 wounded, in killing 451 defenders. PFC Gerard Connelly was one of those lost.
PFC Connelly's body was recovered and interred in the Manilla #2, temporary cemetery in the Philippines. Almost four years later his remains were returned home to New York, and interred in the Long Island National Cemetery on February 25, 1949. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for his bravery and sacrifice for his squad of fellow soldiers and country.
Gerard F Connelly was born on March 20, 1917 in Kings County, New York. He grew up, went to school, and married his bride Elsie. They had four children together. He was employed as a structural-and ornamental-metal worker.
PFC Connelly, Serial No. 6877571, enlisted on March 11, 1944 at Camp Upton Yaphan, New York. After completing basic training, he attended parachute jump school and advanced paratrooper training.
He enlisted with 4 children and a wife at home to serve in the US Army, 11th Airborne Division, 511th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment, Company C. He was KIA at 27 years of age in San Benito, Luzon Phillippines, taking on a machine gun nest and saving his squad. Killed by a sniper at the end of the conflict. There is a VFW Post named after him in Brooklyn, New York, Post #9485. 'Roddy' was loved by all his children; Linda, Gerard, Joseph, Irene, wife Elsie, family, and friends, who have never forgot him. (The previous paragraph written by Gerard's son Joseph)
History leading up to the ill-fated day of Gerard's loss:
On the 12th of April, 1945, the 511th was released to the 11th Abn. Div., and was immediately assigned a leading role in the forthcoming Malepuno operation. This mass of mountains rises out of the southern Luzon plane to a maximum height of 3160 feet and covers an area of approximately 30 square miles. It consists of razor-back ridges, precipitous slopes and rocky gorges. Rain forest covers valleys and peaks alike, except for the central east-west ridge, which was covered with kunai grass and bamboo tickets. The main ridge running north from the center of the mass is less heavily wooded and is the key to the central and northern sectors, since its peaks cover all other ridges. The Malepuno mass was defended by approximately 2000 remnants of the Japanese forces, of which the nucleus was the 17th Japanese Infantry, which were veterans of China and Manchuria. Most of the enemy positions had been previously prepared, so they had well-dug-lines, with supplies to last six months.
After two weeks spent in "feeling out" the enemy, the flanking prongs of the 511th attack began their advance at dawn of April 27. By night-fall of the 29th , the 511th was occupying all the high ground in its assigned sectors, plus one hill assigned to another regiment. The 511th suffered 12 killed and 70 wounded, in killing 451 defenders. PFC Gerard Connelly was one of those lost.
PFC Connelly's body was recovered and interred in the Manilla #2, temporary cemetery in the Philippines. Almost four years later his remains were returned home to New York, and interred in the Long Island National Cemetery on February 25, 1949. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for his bravery and sacrifice for his squad of fellow soldiers and country.
PFC Connelly, Serial No. 6877571, enlisted on March 11, 1944 at Camp Upton Yaphan, New York. After completing basic training, he attended parachute jump school and advanced paratrooper training.
He enlisted with 4 children and a wife at home to serve in the US Army, 11th Airborne Division, 511th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment, Company C. He was KIA at 27 years of age in San Benito, Luzon Phillippines, taking on a machine gun nest and saving his squad. Killed by a sniper at the end of the conflict. There is a VFW Post named after him in Brooklyn, New York, Post #9485. 'Roddy' was loved by all his children; Linda, Gerard, Joseph, Irene, wife Elsie, family, and friends, who have never forgot him. (The previous paragraph written by Gerard's son Joseph)
History leading up to the ill-fated day of Gerard's loss:
On the 12th of April, 1945, the 511th was released to the 11th Abn. Div., and was immediately assigned a leading role in the forthcoming Malepuno operation. This mass of mountains rises out of the southern Luzon plane to a maximum height of 3160 feet and covers an area of approximately 30 square miles. It consists of razor-back ridges, precipitous slopes and rocky gorges. Rain forest covers valleys and peaks alike, except for the central east-west ridge, which was covered with kunai grass and bamboo tickets. The main ridge running north from the center of the mass is less heavily wooded and is the key to the central and northern sectors, since its peaks cover all other ridges. The Malepuno mass was defended by approximately 2000 remnants of the Japanese forces, of which the nucleus was the 17th Japanese Infantry, which were veterans of China and Manchuria. Most of the enemy positions had been previously prepared, so they had well-dug-lines, with supplies to last six months.
After two weeks spent in "feeling out" the enemy, the flanking prongs of the 511th attack began their advance at dawn of April 27. By night-fall of the 29th , the 511th was occupying all the high ground in its assigned sectors, plus one hill assigned to another regiment. The 511th suffered 12 killed and 70 wounded, in killing 451 defenders. PFC Gerard Connelly was one of those lost.
PFC Connelly's body was recovered and interred in the Manilla #2, temporary cemetery in the Philippines. Almost four years later his remains were returned home to New York, and interred in the Long Island National Cemetery on February 25, 1949. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for his bravery and sacrifice for his squad of fellow soldiers and country.
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