Claude Jerome Connolly

Leona Litchke2025-02-15T20:46:34-06:00

Name: Claude Jerome Connolly
Location of Birth: Bovey, Minnesota
Date of Birth: February 7, 1923
Date of Death: November 7, 2017
Parents: George Connolly & Dorothea (Hoffarth) Connolly
High School and Class: 1941 - Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
College:
Highest Rank: PFC (Private First Class)
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In:
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge:
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: Minnesota
Name: Claude Jerome Connolly
Race: White
Age: 19
Birth Date: February 7, 1923
Birth Place: Bovey, Minnesota, USA
Residence Place: Blackberry, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
Registration Date: June 30, 1942
Employer: Oliver Iron Mining Co., Coleraine, Itasca, Minnesota
Weight: 150
Height: 5-8
Complexion: Light brown
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Mrs. Geo. Connolly, Grand Rapids

Newspaper article: 1944 – C. J. Connolly, who terms himself, “FOO,” writes from Italy and the letter is to the same woman who gets so many letters from Trout Lake boys and is so faithful to them: “I received your Christmas card and letter. * * * I still carry the cedar in my pocket. It is like some priceless perfume and you can be sure they don’t have anything like it over here in the mud. * * * I haven’t met Art M. or Melvin Borth yet. I can’t even find their outfit; but I saw Melvin’s name in a register in Naples one time and some of the other guys I went to school with, but I have not met them. I’m having a good time when it is proper to do so, and the rest of the time I’m just making the best of it. FOO.” [*** indicates censored writing removed]

News article in Grand Rapids Herald Review, dated April 4, 1945:
One Son Listed Missing
Another Received Medal
During the past week Mr. and Mrs. George Connolly of Blackberry have received word of both of their sons serving the armed forces in Germany.
Wednesday a message came stating the Private First Class Claude Connolly has been missing in action since March 7. He was with the 2nd Infantry and has been overseas for 18 months.
Private First Class Connolly is 22 years old and has been in the service for the past two years. He is a graduate of the Greenway High School in Coleraine.
Lieutenant James E. Connolly has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while taking part in bombing operations over Germany and enemy occupied Europe.
This young man is a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He is serving with the 91st Bombardment Group, veteran heavy bomber unit for more than two- and one-half years in the European Theater of Operations.
Lieutenant Connolly graduated from the Greenway High School in Coleraine and attended the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining the Air Force in November 1943, he was employed by the Oliver Mining Company.

Newspaper article: Grand Rapids Herald-Review, Grand Rapids, Minnesota – 18 Jul 1945 – Pfc. Claude Connolly, who has been spending a 30-day convalescent leave in visiting with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Connolly of Blackberry, and with relatives and friends in Grand Rapids, left Sunday to return to Gardiner General hospital in Chicago. Pfc. Connolly was serving with the Armed Forces in the European theater of operations when he was taken a prisoner by the enemy. He was released by our troops after being held three weeks. He expects to have a physical check-up at the hospital to be followed by a 60-day furlough to be spent at his home. Following that he will receive a new assignment.

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:
News article in Grand Rapids Herald Review, dated April 11, 1945:
Son is Safe
Mr. and Mrs. George Connolly received word today their son, Private First Class Claude Connolly, is safe in a hospital. He was recently reported missing in action in Germany. He was held prisoner for a while and it is presumed was released when the Allied troops advanced into Germany.

Newspaper article: Apr 1945 – Mr. and Mrs. George Connolly of Blackberry have received a letter from their son, Claude, reported “missing in action in Germany since March.” His letter, written March 21, gave them the good news that he had been freed as a prisoner of war and now was in a hospital near Paris for a rest and check-up, with no apparent bad effects from his experience. The Connolly’s were former residents of Bogalusa.

Civilian Life:
Claude Connolly had joined the Civilian Conservation Corps before entering WW II and serving in the European Theatre. He worked for a local grocery store and Viking Oil, before beginning a 32-year career at Blandin Paper Company, retiring in 1988. He married Mavis Horn in 1951. He volunteered many years at the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Claude died in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and is buried in Harris Cemetery, Itasca County, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife Mavis; children, Robert (Ruth Ann), Mary Kay, William (Paulette), Ann (Gregg) Hauser, John, and Stephen (Jody); sister Pat Wischnewski; sister-in-law, Ardis Horn; twelve grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, James Connolly, David Connolly, Edith Sutherland, Hugh Connolly and Dorothea Stram.

Tribal Affiliation(s):