FIRST U.S WAR HERO

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 March 1942, Page 3

FIRST U.S WAR HERO

SANK JAPANESE BATTLESHIP

In a simple one-hour memorial service, Madison (Florida) paid tribute recently to its home-town boy who became America’s No. 1 hero ol the Second World War, Capt. Colin P. Kelly. Jr. “His praise will be sung as long as liberty lasts,” said Rev. H. IR Latham, while three 4,rmy planes circled overhead in a special salute to the Army pilot whose bomber sent the Japanese battleship Haruwa to the bottom on December 8. Hundreds were present at the services held in the little Presbyterian Church where Capt. Kelly worshipped as a boy before he went to West Point in 1933. His widow, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Colin P. Kelly, senr., were among those who heard the Rev. Mr. Latham also say that Captain Kelly “died that liberty and Christianity might live.” “Caotain Kelly met the great Com-mander-in-Chief up there in the air, and he said: 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant’.” On behalf of the nation, Major C. F. Gilchrist of Mac Dill Field at Tampa, Fla., presented Captain Kelly’s widow with the country’s flag. As the three Army planes flew back to their bases after the service. Baby Colin P. Kelly, 111, was home asleep. Corky, as he is known to America, may go to West Point, too. President Roosevelt has recommended his appointment by the President in 1956. From San Francisco it is reported that an unidentified man paid tribute! in cash to the memory of Captain! Kelly. The man walked into a San Francisco post office, laid £75 on the counter and directed that is be used to buy a £10(1 defence bond for Colin P. Kelly, 111. Then he walked out without leaving his name. Postmaster William McCarthy forwarded the money to the Secretary of the Treasury with the request that the bond be turned over to the flier’s widow.