THE WALL OF FACES

God Bless You

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Navy Cross citation attests to your courage and devotion to our country. May you rest in eternal peace.

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] James Joseph Connell, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from April 1968 to June 1969. Under constant pressure from the North Vietnamese in their attempt to gain military information and propaganda material, Lieutenant Commander Connell experienced severe torture with ropes and was kept in almost continuous solitary confinement. As they persisted in their hostile treatment of him, he continued to resist by feigning facial muscle spasms, incoherency of speech, and crippled arms with loss of feeling in his fingers. The Vietnamese, convinced of his plight, applied shock treatments in an attempt to improve his condition. However, he chose not to indicate improvement for fear of further cruelty. Isolated in a corner of the camp near a work area visited daily by other prisoners, he established and maintained covert communications with changing groups of POW's, thereby serving as a main point of exchange of intelligence information. By his exceptional courage, determination, and resourcefulness in this most difficult line of resistance, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
See https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/4064

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" to Lieutenant Commander James Joseph Connell , United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 15 July 1971 to January 13, 1972. Under the most adverse conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Lieutenant Commander Connell is authorized to wear the Combat "V".)
See https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/4064g

SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant James Joseph Connell, United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Pilot in Attack Squadron FIFTY-FIVE (VA-55), in action over Southeast Asia in 1971. His gallant and untiring devotion to duty was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
See https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/4064