Freedom Remembered

Born: September 14, 1982
Died: February 26, 2009 in Iraq

Cpl. Brian M. Connelly of Union Beach, New Jersey was born Brian Blonske, the oldest of two boys. He had recently taken the name Connelly, his mother’s maiden name. Brian graduated from Red Bank High School in 2000, then enrolled in Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, where he studied computer technology for about 18 months. He joined an electricians’ union, then was laid off. Unemployed, he turned to the Army recruiters. His first assignment was in Germany. Shortly after, he and long time friend, Kara began their long-distance courtship. They had met nearly a decade earlier, and she always admired him. They eventually married in September 2008. During most of their five short months of marriage, Brian and his wife saw each other only through webcams. So Brian and Kara Connelly made the best of it, booting up computers as often as they could to exchange words and smiles beamed half-way around the globe between Iraq and Monmouth County. Even their engagement came via webcams. Brian grew up in Union Beach on the Raritan Bay in a one-story house at the end of a cul-du-sac. As a young boy, Brian trolled the waters of the bay for fluke and weakfish. He liked reading about mechanics and philosophy, but he didn’t care for textbooks. Brian was rowdy, loyal and protective. He loved raucous music, mosh pits and once saved his younger sibling from a rip tide. Among his many other interests were saltwater fishing, video games and practical jokes. After finishing his Army stint, Brian hoped to land a construction job to help pay for his wife’s college. They talked about moving south, to someplace warm and affordable. His awards and decorations include the Iraqi Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He has been awarded posthumously the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Action Badge. He has been posthumously promoted to Corporal. He died at age 26 in Adhamiya, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by an explosive device. He was predeceased by his grandparents, William and Jean Connelly; his grandmother, Barbara Dammann; and his father-in-law, Robert A. Thomas, Jr.
Army
40th Engineer Battalion
Task Force 1-6
2nd Brigade Combat Team
1st Armored Division
Baumholder, Germany

Burial is at Forest Green Park Cemetery in Morganville, New Jersey

The Cpl. Brian Michael Connelly by Freedom Remembered, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.