Stafford pilot killed in Iraq

By JENNIFER BUSKE
Published: January 24, 2007

Col. Paul Kelly loved nothing more than his family, job and country, according to his brother.

But on Saturday, the Stafford resident’s life was cut short when his UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Iraq, killing all 12 on board, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.

“Paul’s a family man who loved his family and taking care of his wife and kids,” Kelly’s brother Tony Kelly said. “He also loved his job and was a military guy through and through.”

Paul Kelly, the son of retired Air Force veteran John Kelly and Mary Rose Kelly, grew up in Dayton, Ohio and went on to study at the University of Dayton.

There, he was active in the ROTC program, Tony Kelly said, adding that it was their father’s military involvement that influenced Paul Kelly to join when he got to college.

“The University of Dayton community is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Col. Paul Kelly,” said the university’s president, Daniel Curran. “We know that he bravely served his country. May his life serve as an example of selflessness and love. We offer our prayers and support to his family. They are such a part of UD’s family.”

The soldier, who would have celebrated his 46th birthday next week, moved to Virginia in the 1980s where he met his wife, Maria Kelly. The couple has two children, Paul David, 9, and John Joseph, 5, who both attend St. William of York Catholic School.

An active member of both the church and school, Paul Kelly once flew a helicopter to the school when his son’s class was learning about careers and the community.

While not working or involved with his immediate family, Paul Kelly enjoyed talking with relatives, golfing and running, Tony Kelly said, adding that the brothers once ran a marathon together in their hometown.

“Family was just so important to him,” Tony Kelly said. “We have family throughout the U.S. and he always kept in touch.”

Kelly, a helicopter pilot, was assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters of the Virginia Army National Guard in Blackstone, according to the DOD. He was deployed in September and was scheduled to return home in March.

The soldier is survived by several relatives including his wife, two children, parents and five siblings - Brita, John, Theresa, Patrick and Tony Kelly.

“First and foremost Paul was for his family and his job,” Tony Kelly said. “He loved his country and doing what he did - That’s how we are going to remember him.”