Virginia National Guard
By SFC Terra C. Gatti,
Twenty years after his parents got married and 10 years after losing his father in an Iraq helicopter shoot-down, PVT Paul David Kelly, 19, raised his right hand and enlisted into the Virginia National Guard.
COL James Ring, Chief of Staff for the Virginia National Guard, administered Kelly’s oath in front of his mother, his grandmother, younger brother, a few friends and his recruiters.
“We are honored and proud for my son to be part of the Guard Family,” PVT Kelly’s mother, Maria, said. “I thank God for all the support and love. I know my husband is looking down on us and I know in my heart that he will protect our son.”
“I remember when I was nine years old, I decided then that I wanted to pursue something in the military.”
Serving in the military was always one of PVT Kelly’s goals. Both his parents served; his father, COL Paul M. Kelly, in the Virginia National Guard; and his mother, Maria, in the Air Force. Photos of Paul as a child show him dressed up in a uniform just like the one his dad would wear to work every day. He’d stick his legs into his father’s boots and stomp around the house, just like his dad.
When PVT Kelly was nine, the helicopter his father was traveling in was shot down north of Baghdad and COL Kelly, along with 11 other Soldiers, including fellow Virginia National Guard member SFC Darryl D. Booker, died. For PVT Kelly, this only strengthened his resolve. He was sure that he would serve, just like his father.
“When he was killed in Iraq, it had a huge impact on me,” PVT Kelly said. “I remember when I was nine years old, I decided then that I wanted to pursue something in the military.”
Ten years later, at the Military Entrance Processing Station located on Fort Lee, Va., PVT Kelly fulfilled that goal by enlisting as an infantry Soldier assigned to the Christiansburg-based Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
PVT Kelly’s enlistment falling on his parents’ 20th wedding anniversary felt as though it was meant-to-be, according to Maria. Plus, she knew without a doubt that COL Kelly was there with her to celebrate PVT Kelly’s enlistment. COL Kelly left Maria a sign after his death, she explained, a symbol to let her know that he was still with her. On the day of PVT Kelly’s enlistment, Maria saw that sign twice on the way to military entrance processing station.
“I know he’s saying it’s ok,” Maria said. PVT Kelly echoed his mother’s sentiment, saying, “I feel like I owe my country service. The least I can do is give a little bit of service.”
PVT Kelly is studying sports medicine at Radford University and will attend basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., next summer.
