Kevin T. Connolly was born in Rockaway Park, NY, on November 19, 1947. His home of record is Avon-by-the-Sea. He moved from Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ, to St. Petersburg, FL, while he was still in high school. Connolly attended St. Petersburg Junior College and Biscayne College in Miami, FL. He was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church and the Sigma Phi Omega Fraternity.

He served in the US Army and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). Connolly was a member of Company D, 3rd Battalion, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.

Connolly was killed in action on December 20, 1968. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mullin, and a brother, Joseph Patrick, survived him. Kevin is buried at Calvary Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Connolly’s name was added to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in 2000 through the efforts of Thomas Gagen of Avon, where Connolly grew up. Gagen learned of the omission at the monument while planning a local memorial at the seaside resort for borough residents killed in Vietnam. Connolly spent most of his youth in Avon before moving to Florida while in high school.

Sources: Thomas Gagen (friend), vvmf.org, and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024