Member | Past Commandant (2006)
Born: 24 Jul 1934
Died: 3 Oct 2005
Wife: Jane O’Connell
Cemetery: Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama
Service Info: Col U.S. Marine Corps | WWII, Korean and Vietnam Veteran
O’CONNELL, Col. John Patrick, 78, a resident of Montgomery, AL, died Monday, October 6, 2003 in his home after an extended illness.
Col. O’Connell was a veteran of World War II, the Koren War, and the Vietnam War, having served in the Marine Corps for 28 years. He is a graduate of the University of California, the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI, and was a faculty member of the Air War College in Montgomery. His highly decorated military career included the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Victory Medal World War II, UN Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, Bronze Star Medal with combat V, Korean Service Medal with 3 stars, Legion of Merit, Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy Occupation Medal. Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, he served as the Senior VP of Personnel at Regions Bank.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jane O’Connell; sons, James Kenneth Carlisle (Kitty) and Michael Bowman O’Connell (Vanessa); daughters, Deborah Anne Folmar (Wilson), Cindi Sweikhart; a sister, Frances O’Connell Chaney of San Francisco, CA: six grandchildren, Dana Carlisle of New Orleans, LA, Sherry Carlisle of El Paso, TX, Ashley Sweikhart of Montgomery, AL, Sean Austin Folmar of Nashville, TN, Evan Patrick O’Connell and Riley Benjamin O’Connell, both of Orlando, FL.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2003 at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at Leak-Memory Chapel on Thursday, October 9, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Marine Corps League Townsend Detachment 920 of Montgomery, AL.Leak-Memory Chapel Directing
Published in the Montgomery Advertiser on Oct. 8, 2003
