Honor A Veteran

Albany County Honors World War II Hero John J. Kelly, Jr

Kelly Distinguished Service Cross Recipient

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin, Congressman Michael McNulty and the Honor-A-Veteran Committee commemorated World War II veteran and Distinguished Service Cross recipient John J. Kelly, Jr. at a ceremony on Saturday, November 4, 2006, at the Zaloga American Legion Post on Everett Road.  The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest honor awarded by the United States Army.

Kelly was a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy and Cornell Law School.  Entering the Army in 1942, he became a highly decorated war hero, being awarded the Silver Star for gallantry during the North African campaign and the Distinguished Service Cross for heroic action during the Battle of Sicily.  He was wounded in the landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day.  Kelly was a partner with the law firm DeGraff, Foy, Conway & Holt-Harris and served as counsel to the Civil Service Employees Association for 11 years.  He died at the age of 39 in 1960 due to complications related to his war injuries.

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