[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   TRIBUTE TO COLONEL JOHN FRANCIS KELLY, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

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                           HON. FLOYD SPENCE

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 1999

  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional 
United States Marines officer, Colonel John Francis Kelly. Next week, 
Colonel Kelly completes a highly successful four year tour as the 
Marine Corps' Liaison to this body. It is a pleasure for me to 
recognize a few of his many outstanding achievements.
  A native of Brighton, Massachusetts, John Kelly initially served in 
the United States Merchant Marines until 1969. On September 10, 1970, 
John Kelly dedicated himself to the service of this Country by 
enlisting in the Marine Corps. Upon graduating from the Marine Corps 
Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina in November 1970, he was 
designated as a Rifleman and conducted training with the Infantry 
Training Regiment, until February 1971. Due to his exemplary 
performance, he was meritoriously promoted ahead of his peers to the 
grades of Private First Class, Lance Corporal, Corporal, and Sergeant. 
He was discharged from the Marine Corps in September 1972. Soon after 
graduating from the University of Massachusetts, Colonel Kelly was 
commissioned as a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant, in November 1975.
  Then, Second Lieutenant Kelly reported to The Basic School in 
Quantico, Virginia, for six months of basic officer training. Upon his 
graduation from that school, John Kelly reported for duty with the 
Second Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 
where he served as a Platoon Commander, a Rifle Company Executive 
Officer, an Assistant Operations Officer, and Commanding Officer of a 
rifle company. In November 1977, he was promoted to First Lieutenant. 
Subsequent non-Fleet Marine Force assignments from 1979 to 1984 
included service as the Executive Officer for Marine Detachments, 
aboard the USS FORRESTAL and the USS INDEPENDENCE, and as the Ground 
Officer Assignment Monitor at Headquarters, United States Marine Corps, 
Washington, DC. During this time, he was promoted to Captain. He also 
graduated from Georgetown University in 1978, where he earned a Masters 
Degree in National Security Studies.
  In June of 1984, Captain Kelly was assigned to the Third Battalion, 
Fourth Marine Regiment, and he commanded both Rifle and Weapons 
Companies. Upon being promoted to the rank of Major, John Kelly served 
as the Battalion's Operation Officer. In June 1987, Major Kelly was 
transferred to Quantico, Virginia, where he was initially assigned as 
the Section Head, Offensive Tactics at The Basic School. In April 1988, 
Major Kelly was assigned as the Officer in Charge and Chief Instructor 
at the Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course, also located at Quantico, 
Virginia. He held this position until August 1990, at which time he was 
reassigned as a student at Marine Corps Command and Staff College and 
later to the School for Advanced Warfighting. In June 1992, Major Kelly 
transferred to the First Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California, 
and he assumed the duties as Commanding Officer of the First Light 
Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, where he was promoted to Lieutenant 
Colonel.
  John Kelly arrived for duty as the Marine Corps' Liaison Officer at 
the House of Representatives in June of 1995. In this capacity, he has 
been instrumental in providing the Congress with in-depth knowledge of 
the Marine Corps. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, Colonel John Kelly has 
come to epitomize those qualities that we as a Nation have come to 
expect from our Marines--absolutely impeccable integrity and character, 
as well as professionalism.
  John Kelly was promoted to Colonel, at a ceremony in which I had the 
honor to participate, at the House of Representatives in July 1998. His 
personal awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy-
Marine Corps Commendation Medals and the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement 
Medal. Mr. Speaker, John Kelly has served our Country with distinction 
for the past twenty-six years. As he continues to do so, I call upon my 
colleagues from both sides of the aisle to wish him, his lovely wife 
Karen, and their three children, John Jr., Robert, and Kathleen, much 
continued success in the future, as well as fair winds and following 
seas.

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