2nd Lt. Connell Patrick

Our Hometown Heroes

Connell Patrick

The Engineer Helped Build Roads

Second Lt. Connell Patrick, took his skills with him when he joined the U.S. Army. As an engineer with the Georgia State Highway Department, Patrick knew how to build roads. Born in 1904, Patrick was 40 years old when he reported to the Middle East in World War 2. He helped build the roads the army needed in Liberia.Attending local schools as a young man, Patrick was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He attended there for three years until the flu caused him to withdraw.

Two years later Lt. Patrick volunteered for active duty, was awarded his commission and assigned to the Corps of Engineers.Assigned to the Middle East Theater of War, Lt. Patrick was killed in action on February 23, 1945. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grover C. Patrickwere notified of their son’s death.

Lt. Patrick is buried in Carthage, Tunisia. Although Patrick did not come home alive, a community now honors the World War II, soldier. An individual plaque will be installed in Historic Downtown Griffin. The plaque is sponsored by the Newton Family, in memory of John T. Newton III.