[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 7140]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO THOMAS G. KELLEY

  Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize 
Thomas G. Kelley of Boston, MA, a veteran who risked his life for his 
nation and went on to a distinguished career serving his fellow 
veterans.
  A son of Boston, Tom Kelley responded to our Nation's call of duty 
and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where as a lieutenant in Vietnam he 
commanded River Assault Division 152. In his service to our Nation, Tom 
Kelley earned our highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. The 
story of how it happened is worth recounting.
  On June 15, 1969, Lieutenant Kelley was leading several boats up the 
Ong Muong Canal to extract an Army company when one suffered a 
mechanical failure. Moments later, the enemy attacked. At this point, I 
would like to quote from Tom Kelley's Medal of Honor citation presented 
by President Richard M. Nixon:

     . . . Lt. Comdr. Kelley realizing the extreme danger to his 
     column and its inability to clear the ambush site until the 
     crippled unit was repaired, boldly maneuvered the monitor in 
     which he was embarked to the exposed side of the protective 
     cordon in direct line with the enemy's fire, and ordered the 
     monitor to commence firing. Suddenly, an enemy rocket scored 
     a direct hit on the coxswain's flat, the shell penetrating 
     the thick armor plate, and the explosion spraying shrapnel in 
     all directions. Sustaining serious head wounds from the 
     blast, which hurled him to the deck of the monitor, Lt. Cmdr. 
     Kelley disregarded his severe injuries and attempted to 
     continue directing the other boats. Although unable to move 
     from the deck or to speak clearly into the radio, he 
     succeeded in relaying his commands through one of his men 
     until the enemy attack was silenced and the boats were able 
     to move to an area of safety.

  The citation concludes:

       Lt. Comdr. Kelley's brilliant leadership, bold initiative, 
     and resolute determination served to inspire his men and 
     provide the impetus needed to carry out the mission after he 
     was medically evacuated by helicopter. His extraordinary 
     courage under fire, and his selfless devotion to duty sustain 
     and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

  Tom retired from the Navy in 1990 with the rank of captain and 
continued to serve in the Defense Department as a civilian. After 
returning to his hometown of Boston, Tom was named commissioner of the 
Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services in 1999. In 2003, then 
Governor Romney named him the department's secretary, where he served 
until January of this year. Many of us in and out of the service were 
very sorry to see him go.
  While at the helm of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' 
Services, Tom Kelley remained a hard-charger, and through tireless 
effort, transformed the agency into a national model for effective and 
efficient care. Under Tom's leadership, a new generation of warriors 
went off to fight in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 
Liberation. Many of these warriors came home with severe physical 
injuries and the invisible scars of brain trauma and post traumatic 
stress disorder. Tom ensured that the department devoted the same level 
of care for these younger men and women as it did veterans from earlier 
conflicts.
  When I served in the State legislature, and as a member of the 
Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee, I worked closely with Tom on 
many issues and was always inspired by his energy and passion for 
helping his fellow veterans.
  Tom served under Republican and Democrat Governors and ensured that 
the department remained focused on providing outstanding service to 
Massachusetts' veterans. I have no doubt that Tom Kelley will always be 
regarded as an extremely effective and dedicated secretary of veterans' 
affairs.
  Tonight, Tom will receive a fitting farewell at a bipartisan gala, 
all the proceeds of which will go to the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy 
Fund. And it comes as no surprise that the guest of honor insisted on 
purchasing his own ticket.

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