William A. Connelly
Encyclopedia
William A. Connelly was the sixth Sergeant Major of the Army
. He was sworn in on July 2, 1979, and served until June, 1983. He was born in Monticello, Georgia
, on June 2, 1931. He is best known for removing the specialist ranks of Specialist 5 through Specialist 7.
Ordered to active duty in March 1954, he was a tank crewman, tank commander, platoon sergeant and First Sergeant in the 761st Tank Battalion, 3rd Armored Division at Fort Knox
, Kentucky. The first of his four tours in Europe was with the 826th Tank Battalion at Hammelburg
and Schweinfurt
, Germany, from January 1955 until November 1956. The 826th returned to Fort Benning
, Georgia, where Sergeant Major Connelly served as an Operations Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant until August 1958. He returned to Europe, serving as Platoon Sergeant with the 2/67th Armor, 4th Armored Division in Fürth
, Germany, from August 1958 through September 1961. He was back in CONUS at Fort Stewart
, Georgia, as a Platoon Sergeant with the 3d Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor for less than 30 days when that unit was sent to Germany as part of the build up during the Berlin crisis.
Sergeant Major Connelly remained in Augsburg serving as a Platoon Sergeant with the 3/32d Armor until November 1962. He then moved to Munich, Germany, as a First Sergeant and Operations Sergeant in the 32nd Tank Battalion, and 24th Infantry Division. Back at Fort Stewart, Georgia, in August 1964, Sergeant Major Connelly served as First Sergeant of Company C, 4th Battalion, 68th Armor, 2d Infantry Division. In October 1965, his company was ordered to the Dominican Republic
and remained there until July 1966. In January 1967, Sergeant Major Connelly assumed duties as Chief Enlisted Advisor to the Cavalry Squadron or the Georgia National Guard, headquartered in Griffin, Georgia
.
His combat duty in Vietnam was as First Sergeant of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division from October 1969 to November 1970. From then until May 1973, Sergeant Major Connelly served at Fort Knox, Kentucky as First Sergeant of the reception Station and several companies of the First Training Brigade as well as Sergeant Major of the 1st and 2d Battalions. Upon graduation he was assigned to Germany for his fourth European tour. Sergeant Major Connelly initially served as Sergeant major of the 1/35th Armor, 1st Armored Division
at Erlangen
. In June 1975, he became Sergeant Major of the Seventh Army Training Command Grafenwöhr
and in July 1976, became Sergeant Major of the 1st Armored division at Ansbach
. From that position, he was nominated and selected to the position of Sergeant Major of the United States Army Forces Command
, Fort McPherson
, Georgia, in July 1977.
, Bronze Star
with V Device and (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal
(with Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal
with V Device, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Good Conduct Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge
.
The Sergeants Major of the Army, Daniel K. Elder
, Center of Military History, United States Army Washington, D.C. 2003.
Sergeant Major of the Army
The Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Army. The holder of this rank is the most senior enlisted member of the Army, unless an Army NCO is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, when in that case that NCO will be the most senior...
. He was sworn in on July 2, 1979, and served until June, 1983. He was born in Monticello, Georgia
Monticello, Georgia
Monticello is the largest city and the county seat of Jasper County, Georgia , United States. The population was 2,428 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Monticello is located at ....
, on June 2, 1931. He is best known for removing the specialist ranks of Specialist 5 through Specialist 7.
Ordered to active duty in March 1954, he was a tank crewman, tank commander, platoon sergeant and First Sergeant in the 761st Tank Battalion, 3rd Armored Division at Fort Knox
Fort Knox
Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties. It currently holds the Army Human Resources Center of Excellence to include the Army Human Resources Command, United States Army Cadet...
, Kentucky. The first of his four tours in Europe was with the 826th Tank Battalion at Hammelburg
Hammelburg
Hammelburg is a town in the district of Bad Kissingen, in Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Franconian Saale, 25 km west of Schweinfurt...
and Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
, Germany, from January 1955 until November 1956. The 826th returned to Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia, where Sergeant Major Connelly served as an Operations Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant until August 1958. He returned to Europe, serving as Platoon Sergeant with the 2/67th Armor, 4th Armored Division in Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
, Germany, from August 1958 through September 1961. He was back in CONUS at Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily in Liberty County and Bryan County, but also extending into smaller portions of Evans, Long, and Tattnall Counties in Georgia, USA. The population was 11,205 at the 2000 census...
, Georgia, as a Platoon Sergeant with the 3d Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor for less than 30 days when that unit was sent to Germany as part of the build up during the Berlin crisis.
Sergeant Major Connelly remained in Augsburg serving as a Platoon Sergeant with the 3/32d Armor until November 1962. He then moved to Munich, Germany, as a First Sergeant and Operations Sergeant in the 32nd Tank Battalion, and 24th Infantry Division. Back at Fort Stewart, Georgia, in August 1964, Sergeant Major Connelly served as First Sergeant of Company C, 4th Battalion, 68th Armor, 2d Infantry Division. In October 1965, his company was ordered to the Dominican Republic
Operation Power Pack
The second United States occupation of the Dominican Republic began when the United States Marines Corps entered Santo Domingo on April 28, 1965. They were later joined by most of the United States Army's 82nd Airborne Division and its parent XVIIIth Airborne Corps...
and remained there until July 1966. In January 1967, Sergeant Major Connelly assumed duties as Chief Enlisted Advisor to the Cavalry Squadron or the Georgia National Guard, headquartered in Griffin, Georgia
Griffin, Georgia
Griffin is a city in and the county seat of Spalding County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 23,643.-Geography:Griffin is located at ....
.
His combat duty in Vietnam was as First Sergeant of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division from October 1969 to November 1970. From then until May 1973, Sergeant Major Connelly served at Fort Knox, Kentucky as First Sergeant of the reception Station and several companies of the First Training Brigade as well as Sergeant Major of the 1st and 2d Battalions. Upon graduation he was assigned to Germany for his fourth European tour. Sergeant Major Connelly initially served as Sergeant major of the 1/35th Armor, 1st Armored Division
1st Armored Division (United States)
The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...
at Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
. In June 1975, he became Sergeant Major of the Seventh Army Training Command Grafenwöhr
Grafenwöhr
Grafenwöhr is a town in the district Neustadt , in the region of the Upper Palatinate in eastern Bavaria, Germany. It is widely known for the United States Army military installation and training area, called Grafenwöhr Training Area, located directly south and west of the town.- Early History:The...
and in July 1976, became Sergeant Major of the 1st Armored division at Ansbach
Ansbach
Ansbach, originally Onolzbach, is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Ansbach is situated southwest of Nuremberg and north of Munich, on the Fränkische Rezat, a tributary of the Main river. As of 2004, its population was 40,723.Ansbach...
. From that position, he was nominated and selected to the position of Sergeant Major of the United States Army Forces Command
United States Army Forces Command
United States Army Forces Command is the largest Army Command and the preeminent provider of expeditionary, campaign-capable land forces to Combatant Commanders. Headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, FORSCOM consists of more than 750,000 Active Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and Army National...
, Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson was a U.S. Army military base located in East Point, Georgia, on the southwest edge of the City of Atlanta, Ga. It was the headquarters for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Southeast Region; the U.S. Army Forces Command; the U.S. Army Reserve Command; the U.S...
, Georgia, in July 1977.
Awards and decorations
Sergeant Major Connelly's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with V Device and (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
(with Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with V Device, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Good Conduct Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
.
 |
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| Combat Infantry Badge | ||||||||||||
| Army Distinguished Service Medal | Bronze Star Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the... with Combat V and two oak leaf clusters |
Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (United States) The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969... with oak leaf cluster |
Air Medal Air Medal The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:... with Valor Device |
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| Army Commendation Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters | Army Good Conduct Medal | Army of Occupation Medal Army of Occupation Medal The Army of Occupation Medal is a military award of the United States military which was established by the United States War Department on 5 April 1946. The medal was created in the aftermath of the Second World War to recognize those who had performed occupation service in either Germany or Japan... |
National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... |
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| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy... |
Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during... with three bronze stars |
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with star | Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is... |
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The Sergeants Major of the Army, Daniel K. Elder
Daniel K. Elder
Command Sergeant Major Daniel Keith Elder is a retired United States Army Command Sergeant Major who served as the 12th Senior Enlisted Advisor, United States Army Materiel Command from 2005 to 2008...
, Center of Military History, United States Army Washington, D.C. 2003.