World War II Honoree

Joseph R. Connelly

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

New Jersey

Honored By

An Indebted American

ENTERED THE NAVAL MEDICAL CORPS IN 1942. SERVED ABOARD THE USS WADSWORTH (DD-516), A FLETCHER CLASS DESTROYER THAT WAS JUST LAUNCHED AT THE BATH MAINE IRON WORKS AND HEADED FOR THE PACIFIC THEATRE AS THE SHIP'S DOCTOR. SAW COMBAT IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, BOUGAINVILLE, AND GREEN ISLAND. ADDITIONAL COMBAT BATTLES WERE AT SAIPAN, PHILIPPINE SEA, GUAM, AND TINIAN UNTIL DECEMBER 1944 WHEN HIS DUTY AS THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE SHIP ENDED. HE HAD TREATED NUMEROUS SAILORS AND MARINES WHO WERE WOUNDED DURING WWII. CONTINUED HIS SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT. RECIPIENT OF FOUR CAMPAIGN STARS.