Edward Walter Connelly, Jr.

Captain, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)

Edward Walter Connelly, Jr. was born on 10 January 1944.

Ned enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1965. He entered the 38th Officer Candidate Course at Quantico, VA, and was assigned to the 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company. He graduated on 17 December 1965 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USMCR. As he was an Air Option, Ned was sent directly to Pensacola Naval Air Station, FL, for flight training. He earned his 'Wings of Gold' as a Naval Aviator, followed the Rotary Wing track, and became a helicopter pilot (MOS 7562) flying the CH-46.

Upon Ned’s arrival in Vietnam in August 1967, he was assigned to HMM-165 'The White Knights,' Marine Air Group 36, 1st Marine Air Wing, III Marine Amphibious Force, along with his classmate Captain Bob Romero [Honoree Record ID 274179], and they flew out of the Hue/Phu Bai Air Facility.

In late April 1968, the NVA made a concerted effort to interdict the flow of supplies up the Cua Viet River to Dong Ha. This precipitated the Battle for Dai Do, fought primarily by 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in conjunction with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. After the intense fighting by 2/4 from 30 April through 2 May in the Dai Do area, 1/3 moved through the 2/4 lines and continued the pursuit of the NVA forces to the northwest. As the NVA forces withdrew northward toward the DMZ, they leapfrogged into previously prepared positions consisting of fortified bunkers, trench lines and spider holes, some of which were reinforced with concertina wire and claymore mines.

On 5 May 1968, Captain Ned Connelly was flying in support of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, which was tasked with keeping the Cua Viet waterway open. On 5 May Delta Company 1/3 was on the Battalion point. At first light, Delta, 1/3 ran into stiff resistance as they approached the ville of Truc Kinh. Marines in two salients had sustained heavy casualties and were pinned down. Efforts to reach them had been unsuccessful and some of the wounds were so severe the evacuation of the Marines casualties were categorized as “Emergency.”

Once on the ground at the first salient, several casualties were loaded aboard. Although his aircraft was under intense hostile fire, Ned elected to extract the second group, too. As he approached the second salient the aircraft sustained serious damage from enemy fire and crashed in a rice paddy (YD 242645). Ned exited his aircraft with his crew, assisting his co-pilot, 1st Lt Klahn, who had received a gunshot wound to his left leg. The crew joined the Marine infantry squad.

While awaiting rescue by his wingman, Ned was mortally wounded. His wingman, Captain Bucceri, did swoop in and extract all of the infantry Marines and the air crew. Ned was rushed to Delta Med in Dong Ha, Quang Tri Province, but he succumbed to the gunshot wound and burns sustained in the crash.

Perhaps the highest praise is found in the 3rd Marine Regiment’s Command Chronology. In referring to Ned and his wingman, it concluded that “the crews of these aircraft functioned without regard for their own lives, but only in the interest of the men they were to support.”

Medals, Awards and Badges

Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Naval Aviator Badge

Silver Star Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain Edward Walter Connelly, Jr. (MCSN: 0-93033), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-165), Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Six, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 May 1968, Captain Connelly launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 helicopters assigned an emergency medical evacuation mission in support of a friendly unit which was heavily engaged with a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force northeast of Dong Ha in Quang Tri Province. Arriving over the designated area, he was advised that two groups of Marines had been pinned down for fifteen hours within 150 meters of enemy positions and had sustained casualties. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Captain Connelly unhesitatingly commenced his approach to the fire-swept landing zone and immediately came under a heavy volume of accurate fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, he skillfully landed his aircraft in the hazardous area and expeditiously embarked several Marines. Although his helicopter was under intense hostile fire, he fearlessly elected to extract the second group. Upon making his approach, the aircraft sustained serious damage from the enemy fire and crashed in a rice paddy. Rapidly exiting his burning helicopter, he maneuvered to a nearby position where he was mortally wounded while awaiting a rescue helicopter. His bold initiative and sincere concern from the welfare of his comrades inspired all who served with him. By his courage, superior airmanship and selfless devotion to duty, Captain Connelly upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Honors

The name Edward W Connelly, Jr is located on Panel 55E Line 7 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Captain Edward Walter Connelly, Jr., is buried at Agawam Center Cemetery in Agawam, MA.

[Thanks to Captain Dave Mellon, USMCR, a classmate of Ned Connelly in the 38th Officer Candidate Course, for the valuable information he provided for this bio. Capt Mellon served as a platoon commander in Vietnam and was wounded.]