Clifford R. "Cliff" "Kip" Connelly

JOY BENZ BETROTHAL TO CLIFFORD CONNELLY TOLD

At a dinner held recently at the Vernon Bixeman home, the engagement of Joy Benz to "Kip" Clifford Connelly was announced.

Joy, daughter of Mrs. Alberta Benz, Chicago, is a senior at the Harrison Technical high school. "Kip," a graduate of Lowell high school, was recently employed by the Magnesium Company of America.

Plans for the wedding are indefinite as Connelly is now serving with the United States Army.

"Kip" Connelly, who was inducted into the Army on November 29th, spent one week at Camp Custer, Mich., before starting his basic training in Pennsylvania. Kip graduated from Lowell high school last spring and for the past four years has made his home with his brother, John and family, at Cedar Lake. He anticipates a 5-day leave for Christmas. Address: Pvt. Clifford R. Connelly 55232062, Co A, 2nd Inf. Reg., 5th Inf. Div., Indian Town Gap, Military Reservation, Pa.

Clifford "Kip" Connelly, who is stationed at Indian Town Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania, is expected to arrive home today. Kip has been granted a 17-day leave.

News comes from Clifford "Kip" Connelly that he arrived in Korea, at Inchon, on June 4th, and is serving with the 25th division of the infantry. Kip left home May 2nd after a 17-day furlough and sailed for Japan May 5th from Ft. Lawrence, Washington. He sends a new address for his Tribune and Lowell friends. Write: Pvt. Clifford Connelly US55232062, Provisional Co. 1198, APO 613, c/o P.M., San Francisco, Calif.

"Kip" Connelly with 5th Reg. Combat Team

With the 5th Regimental Combat Team in Korea -- Pvt. Clifford R. Connelly, of Cedar Lake, recently arrived in Korea and was assigned to the 5th Regimental Combat Team.

His unit has supported every division in Korea since arriving in the combat zone in August, 1951.

A member of Company I, Pvt. Connelly received basic training at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pa. He is an alumnus of Lowell high school, class of '51.

"Kip" Connelley Awarded Combat Infantryman Badge

With the 25th Infantry Division in Korea -- Pfc. Clifford R. Connelley, whose brother John, lives at Cedar Lake, has been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge while serving with the 25th Infantry Division in Korea.

The badge, a symbol of the frontline fighting man, consists of a miniature replica of a Revolutionary War flintlock mounted on a blue background and superimposed on a silver wreath.

Connelley, an automatic rifleman in the 5th Regiment's Company I, arrived in Korea last May.

He entered the Army in December, 1951. "Kip" was graduated from Lowell high school with the class of '51, where he was a most popular student.

Pictured are "Kip" Connelly of Cedar Lake and Bartel Zandstra of Highland in their bunker in the Korean "Punch Bowl" where the boys spent 136 days in the battle line before they were relieved.

The following letter was received Tuesday from "Kip" Connelly of Cedar lake, who was one of the most popular students graduated from Lowell high school last spring.

Dear "Trib":

Shortly after my arrival in Korea, I overheard a town named Highland, Indiana mentioned in a conversation. I inquired as to who was from Highland and was promptly introduced to Pfc. Bartel Zandstra whose parents are Mr. and Mr. Charles Zandstra and whose uncle, Bartel, is county clerk. 9,000 miles to meet some who lives 10 miles from me. Shortly after our meeting we went up the front lines of the Korean battlefield. That was June 17th. We spent 136 consecutive days there, coming to reserve finally on October 31st. I don't know how long we'll stay, but it is peaceful and quiet back here and only four miles from another Cedar Lake lad, Ronald Gross, whom I plan on seeing if the opportunity comes my way.

In closing we want to give our deepest thanks for the weekly edition of the Tribune, a real morale builder and extremely appreciated. Enclosed please find a snapshot of Bart and myself next to our bunker shortly before we came off the lines.

I regret not having been able to attend the Centennial which the Trib so wonderfully covered.

So that some of the other boys in service whose addresses I don't have can write to me, I enclose my address as follows: Pfc. Kip Connelly, US55232062, Co. I 5th R.C.T., APO 301, c/o P.M. San Francisco, California.