Richard Connelly attended the University of Dayton (Ohio), Harvard University, Saint Charles College in Columbus, Ohio, and Saint Vincent Seminary at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He was ordained a Catholic priest on March 4, 1939. Entering military service during World War II, he was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain, serving through five battle campaigns in North Africa and Europe. After his military service he pastored churches in Columbus, Athens, Martin’s Ferry, and Ironton, and then moved to Lancaster in 1952. He was active in many civic and religious organizations and served many of them as chaplain. He retired from Saint Colman Catholic Church in 1976. He was chaplain of the Cleveland Browns football team for 19 years, and then as chaplain of the Cincinnati Bengals beginning in 1988.
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)Division:
34th Infantry DivisionAction Date:
World War II
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Richard J. Connelly (ASN: 0-502094), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Chaplain with the 34th Infantry Division in action in North Africa and Europe, during World War II. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Connelly, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.