Brigadier General Donald W. Connelly was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 17 March 1952, Class 09. His first duty assignment was as a platoon leader, Company B, 164th Infantry, Camp Rucker, Alabama. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Battalion S-2/Platoon Leader, Company A, 279th Infantry, Korea; Personnel Officer/Classification and Assignment Officer/ Assistant Adjutant General, Chief, Operations Branch, Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Officer in Charge/Operations Control and Adjutant/Executive Officer, U.S. Army Personnel Center, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; Executive Officer, Headquarters, U.S. Army Combat Developments Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Personnel Management Officer/Chief, Personnel Management Section, Adjutant General Branch, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.; Adjutant General/Battalion Commander, 1st Cavalry Division, Vietnam; Chief, General Officers Branch, Office of Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.; Curriculum Research Analyst, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Generl Connelly's awards and decorations include: Korean Service Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, United Nations service Medal, Parachute Badge, Ranger Tab, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters (Oak Leaf Cluster), Combat Infantryman Badge, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, Senior Parachute Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Aircraft Crewman Badge, National Defense Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam commendation Medal (60 Device), Legion of Merit (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnam Parachute Badge (Honorary), General Staff Identification, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with Palm), 5 Overseas Bars, Meritorious Service Medal.