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He served during The Greatest Generation. Staff Sergeant John Connelly lived to 100. Friends say he was a God-fearing man who loved family and country.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville community is mourning the loss of a true American hero.
Staff Sgt. John J. Connelly, a World War II veteran, passed away early this morning at the age of 100.
Born in 1924, Connelly reached his centennial milestone in January. Though he never bragged about his military service, his story is one of extraordinary bravery and resilience.
During World War II, Connelly served as a waist gunner aboard a B-24 bomber, flying perilous missions over Germany. On July 21, 1944, during his eighth combat mission, enemy fire struck his aircraft, forcing the crew to parachute to safety. According to his son-in-law Robert Pollett, that was his first parachute jump—one he had never trained for. Instead of landing in neutral Switzerland as hoped, Connelly and his crew found themselves in hostile German territory, where they were captured by local villagers and turned over to Nazi forces.
Connelly endured the brutal conditions of a prisoner-of-war camp, including the infamous “Death March,” one of the most harrowing ordeals faced by American service members. He was eventually imprisoned in Stalag 11B, where he and fellow captives suffered through disease, malnutrition, and inhumane treatment. Liberation finally came at the hands of a British tank regiment, ending his ordeal and allowing him to return home as a free man.
Back in the U.S., Connelly built a life defined by faith, family, and hard work. He married, raised children, and established a successful career in real estate. Though he lived quietly, his service and sacrifice left an indelible mark on the nation he fought to protect.
Thursday, America bid farewell to more than just a veteran—we say goodbye to a devoted family man who honored the values of the Greatest Generation.
A family friend, John Beasley, says when he learned about Sgt. Connelly’s death, he was quite upset. “My heart is broken,” he says. Beasley calls him a “hero, history book.”
And he offered these words:
“Rest in peace, SSGT. Connelly. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
