For Tom Connelly, the War Is Finally Over, Rest in Peace

On July 23, World War II finally ended for Thomas J. “Tom” Connelly, 91.
Connelly recently resided at Loyalton of Cape May in Court House and formerly in Edgewood.
While it is pure speculation, I envision one of the first things Tom likely did as he entered the Eternal City was raise his hand to salute Gen. George S. Patton Jr., the man under whom he and legion others fought at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.
I can imagine the storied flag officer telling the reclusive Army veteran, “No, no. We don’t salute up here. We all are equal in this place, privates and generals and presidents. No rank separates us here, my brother.”
The Philadelphia-born Connelly and his coveted, business card sized copy of Patton’s Prayer was the focus of a story I did for the Herald on Dec. 20, 2006.
After that, Patton’s Web site, operated by his estate, asked permission to place that story where those interested could read it. Since then, I received many e-mails from veterans or children of veterans who either served with Patton, or erroneously believed I fought in the Battle of the Bulge under the general. I had to set them straight that that was not the case.
They all got to know a little bit about Tom Connelly through that story, and most extended humble gratitude to him and others who fought that battle and won over Nazi oppression.
Connelly, born July 2, 1918, received the European African Middle Eastern Ribbon with three Bronze Service Stars.
But his real war trophy was that small, well-preserved copy of Patton’s famed prayer of Dec. 8, 1944, sent to each member of the Third Army. It sought good weather, and must have found favor with the Creator, since foul weather ended, and the American forces were victorious.
A member of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Association, South Jersey Chapter LXI, Connelly joined 17 others of that local “band of brothers” at the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery, on Oct. 21, 2006 when a dark gray monument which bears the words, “A Triumph of Courage” was dedicated.
Connelly was like his solider comrades. They “Don‘t die, they just fade away,” as Gen. Douglas Macarthur stated. So it was that retiree from Honeywell, who worked for 33 years after the war, also faded into history.
Connelly’s final resting place, where he was buried July 27, was marked by a lone basket of flowers in Section C, between two World War II Navy veterans, William J. Collins, to the east, and Elmer G. Gallaway to the west. In time, a permanent bronze placard will mark his place for eternity.
Through my years in newspapers interviewing people, many names vanished like the newsprint upon which their stories were printed, but Connelly’s image remains vivid.
Possibly that is because, after a story about the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, the chapter honored me with an autographed copy of the war-time Yank, The Army Weekly of Jan. 21, 1945 with GI’s watching as Nazi POWs paraded past. The title of the photo, “Bastogne Payoff.” Connelly’s name is there with the others “Tom Connelly 35 Div.”
One of the things I learned from some of his veteran buddies was how he didn’t relish many people going to his mobile home where I interviewed him. He was a private man, but I recall his well ordered home, as one might expect from an old soldier.
Through his recollection, I felt the frigid fighting conditions, “My feet were frozen. I got to the point I lost feeling, so I thought I would go to sick call. The doctor said to me, “Your feet are not black enough,’ and he sent me back into action,” Connelly told me.
“Things were moving fast and furious, and it was tough to survive,” he added.
Even in his sunset years, Connelly could never banish the sounds of German 88mm guns that frightened GI’s before they struck. “The sound they made, you knew it was a Tiger tank. The sound it made when it went off sure scared everybody,” he said.
Nor did six decades erase mental images of dead bodies. “They were like mannequins made of white wax,” he told me.
After all the years, Connelly still found Patton’s prayer amazing.
“The snow was terrible, and then the fog, so bad the airplanes couldn’t fly. Then, after this prayer, the weather cleared up. I don’t know how religious a man Patton was, but that prayer, and what it did, certainly had an effect upon him and the troops,” Connelly said.
Connelly is survived by nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, the late Andrew J. and Catherine (Sweeney) Connelly, he was preceded in death by his brother, Andy; and his sisters, Catherine Connelly and Marie T. Connelly.
Funeral Mass was July 27 at Our Lady of the Angels Church, 35 E. Mechanic Street, Court House.
“Patton’s Prayer:”
“”Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen.”