YOUNGSTOWN — Col. Leo H. Connelly Jr. spent part of the holidays helping to pass out food and toys to about 50 families in need, but now he’s started the new year by being thankful for his own gift.

“It’s great to be able to be on board with the Veterans Service Commission to complete the mission to help veterans,” the decorated U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran said.

The Boardman man has been given the latest opportunity to do just that, because he was sworn in as commander of the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization by Judge R. Scott Krichbaum during a brief ceremony Friday at the Mahoning County Courthouse.

Connelly, a Purple Heart recipient, served in the Army from 1966 to 1968 and was wounded in June 1967 in Vietnam while trying to rescue an American soldier and get him to a helicopter to be flown to a hospital. For years, he has been a strong advocate for veterans, including making sure they receive services to which they’re entitled.

The Springfield, Va.-based Military Order of the Purple Heart is a congressionally chartered organization that provides a variety of services to veterans and their families, supports necessary legislative initiatives and promotes goodwill among those injured in combat. The organization is made up of military personnel who received the Purple Heart for wounds they suffered in combat or via an international act of terrorism, its mission statement says.

The commander position has been vacant since Raymond P. Ornelas Sr. died Nov. 11, 2019, at age 87. Connelly was appointed Friday to serve the remaining four years of Ornelas’ five-year term, which expires Jan. 14, 2024.

Ornelas was a Marine Corps soldier who served in Korea from 1951 to 1953.

Among Connelly’s duties will be advocating for and preserving veterans’ benefits and rights, ensuring they have needed educational opportunities and providing necessary emergency relief — all intended to “make veterans whole again and help them get whatever benefits they have coming to them,” Connelly said.

“As public servants, we pledge to improve the quality of life for veterans who live, work and conduct business in our county. We recognize that in order to build trust and mutual respect, it is essential to establish a partnership with the veterans we serve,” a statement from the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission says.

VSC offices in all of Ohio’s 88 counties have one commissioner each for five organizations: the Military Order of the Purple Heart, AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans, noted Connelly, who estimated that he volunteers between 2,000 and 3,000 hours yearly on behalf of veterans.

Krichbaum praised the Vietnam War veteran for his service, saying that his appointment will be significant for the VSC and the community.

For Connelly, the position is merely another avenue to continue reaching out to as many of those who have served the nation as possible.

“It’s time to give back, and it’s not just from 8 to 4. I’m on call anytime,” he said. “If I make a difference in one person’s life, I’ve done my job.”