It was 40 years ago that The Vietnam War had ended. My Momma told me about the day my dad’s chopper was leaving in 1969. She also said that Daddy was holding me in his lap and crying, as he watched the fall of Saigon on television in 1975. He didn’t talk of the war much.

My Daddy is John Michael Connelly Sr. He was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama in March 1945 and passed away on October 8, 2014. He spoke very little about Vietnam, but then I was a child. He did speak of it some by telling me that he was planning on enlisting in the military during that time. He was working for Naman’s Foods as a box boy and would deliver groceries. He was recovering from hip or leg surgery when he received his draft notice. He reported to Fort Benning and was in the United States Army. His rank became Sp4 9th Infantry United States Army. He worked as in country radio operations and carried the radio on his back. He was also in artillery in the Mei-cong Delta.

He had several cousins that served in Vietnam as well. Although I do not recall which branch they were in. Daddy went to basic training in Fort Benning and then he went to Seattle at a base. From there he went to Vietnam. Daddy’s nickname quickly became Rebel because of his Southern accent. His accent was very noticeable. He spoke of his Aunt Mae (my great aunt) sending him care packages. He enjoyed the honey, Kool-Aid, and condensed milk that she sent to him. His guilty pleasure was drinking these items. He spoke of having them tucked in a river nearby to keep it cool. She would also mail him the Mobile Press Register. He enjoyed reading that. Aunt Mae saved every letter that Daddy sent and I read them many times. Daddy made a friend while there, a young Vietnamese woman named Snow. He talked about how much he liked her and about them becoming friends. He spoke of his fear that she probably lost her life after the US Troops pulled out in 1975.

He didn’t talk about his fear, other than his friend. I could tell from his letters and his reassuring our Aunt Mae that he was afraid. While he was there he became sick once. The medic thought he had malaria. But he recovered. He was injured in the line of duty and got shrapnel in his legs. He was to receive the Purple Heart. But Daddy didn’t take it because he told me that he only “did what any other veteran would do”. He lived with a lot of anger when I was young. Eventually Vietnam caught up with Daddy. He suffered from PTSD. He had severe nightmares and flashbacks. He was eventually deemed 100% disabled due to the war.

When he returned home the first thing he did was see Aunt Mae. He didn’t get a major welcome home. Daddy had trouble returning to everyday life. Sounds such as fireworks, backfire of a car, or any type of loud sound made him jump. As I became older Daddy began to soften up so to speak as he began to deal with his issues. But his mind never left the jungles of Vietnam. Daddy and I became extremely close. Daddy suffered from Alzheimer’s the last few years of his life. However his only problem was not being able to remember the last 5 minutes. He was in the Alzheimer’s facility at The VA Biloxi – Gulfport when he became suddenly ill. He passed away due to Sepsis. I was at his side, holding his hand, and lying by him with my head on his chest when he went to Jesus. The war was finally over in his mind. I always told Daddy that I was proud of him and I am. He was proud of being in the Army and he served his country well.
And Thank You Daddy, as I love you and miss you with my next breath.

God Bless All of You that served.
~ Michelle Connelly Lovitte

We are grateful to Michelle for sharing her father’s service and story with Comes A Soldier’s Whisper, where we are all connected.
God Bless all who serve and keep us safe.

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