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name
CONNALLY, David Gerry Jr - Date of
birth
7 August 1913 -
Age
30 - Place of
birth
Tyler, Smith County, Texas -
Hometown
Tyler, Smith County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-453893 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Company Commander -
Unit
B Company,
307th Airborne Engineer Battalion,
82nd Airborne Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 January 1944 - Place of
death
Meyrode, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| F | 7 | 65 |
Immediate family
-
Members
David G. Connally (father)
Frankie B. Connally (mother)
Frances C. Connally (sister)
Norah G. (Christie) Connally (wife)
Gerry Connally (daughter)
More information
David Connally attended Georgia Tech and Yale University and was an architect.He enlisted in Houston, Texas on 5 March 1941. He was sent overseas in May 1943.
While he was stationed in England, he met his wife, who was an Irish girl.
He died of shrapnel fragments to his both legs.
He was initially buried in a temporary grave at Henri-Chapelle on 31 January 1945. After being disinterred and after the cemetery was given a permanent status, he was given his final resting place on 10 September 1948.
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously for meritorious service in connection with military operations against the enemy from July 1943 to January 1945. the citation cited: Cpt Connally assumed command of his company early in the Normandy campaign when it had been greatly decimated due to jump casualties. His knowledge of military engineering combined with calm but aggressive leadership enabled him to accomplish all engineer tasks assigned to his company during the Normandy, Holland and Ardennes campaigns, and at the same time build up a high morale and fighting spirit among the officers and men under his command.
Source of information: Jac Engels, Raf Dyckmans www.307th.org, IDPF
Photo source: Ralph Peeters, www.307th.org, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1935 Blueprint Yearbook, John Tyler High School, 1930 Alcalde Yearbook