Walter Kelly died OCT 18,1918 from FLU epedemic

KELLY

Posted By: IRISH EYES ARE SMILING (email)
Date: 2/13/2018 at 13:03:42

Article From “Ottumwa Daily Courier,” Tuesday, May 25, 1920:

KELLY BODY IS SENT HOME

SAILOR, WHO HAS BEEN BURIED OVERSEAS, WILL BE INTERRED IN CALVARY

The body of Walter Kelly, who died in October, 1918, while en route to France and was buried in a base port cemetery in that country, will arrive in Ottumwa tomorrow noon.

The cortege will leave Moroney’ funeral home at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and go to Calvary cemetery where the service will be in charge of Rev. Father James Foley, pastor of the Sacred Heart church. Members of The American Legion will act as pall bearers and escort and will furnish the firing squad.

Mrs. Joseph Hanrahan, 2003 Roemer street, aunt of Mr. Kelly, received word today from the lad’s father, W.H. Kelly of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Ottumwa. The remains arrived in the United States last week. [Transcriber’s Note: Eva Hanrahan was the sister of Walter’s mother, Olive.]

Young Mr. Kelly was in the navy during the war and was just completing his fourteenth trip across the Atlantic on a transport when he became ill with influenza. When the boat landed he was removed to a nearby hospital and died there.

Article From “Ottumwa Daily Courier,” Wednesday, May 26, 1920:

KELLEY BODY NOT YET HERE [sic - Last name spelled incorrectly as Kelley in this article.]

EXPECT ARRIVAL OF DECEASED SAILOR LATE TODAY; FUNERAL TOMORROW AFTERNOON

The body of Walter Kelley, the American sailor who died in France and whose body is being brought to this country for burial, was expected to arrive in the city late this afternoon.

The body is to be taken directly to the Moroney Funeral home, where the coffin will be opened at the request of relativese [sic] of the deceased sailor, under the supervision of the local board of health.

The funeral will leave Moroney’s tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o’clock and go to the Calvary cemetery where services will be held, conducted by Rev. James Foley of the Sacred Heart church. Interment will take place in the Calvary cemetery.

The funeral will be military, conducted under the auspices of O.B. Nelson Post of the American Legion.

The legion will not only furnish pallbearers but will supply a firing squad while all members of the legion and ex-service men are urged to attend the funeral. The legion men and ex-service men will meet at the Armory tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 o’clock.

Article From “Ottumwa Daily Courier,” Thursday, May 27, 1920:

WALTER KELLY’S BODY LAID TO REST IN OTTUMWA AFTER BURIAL IN FRENCH CEMETERY.

Local Sailor Who Died At Brest, as He Completed Fourteenth Trip Across Atlantic, is Accorded Honors.

FIRING SQUAD AND “TAPS” RESOUND

It is a long call from the “row upon row” of wooden crosses in the little cemetery at Brest, France, to the velvety green sward of Ottumwa’s Calvary cemetery, but the long journey is over and tonight Walter Kelly sleeps beneath his native sod.

The Ottumwa boy was laid to rest this afternoon. Military escort stood at the side of his grave as the Rev. Father James Foley pronounced the last absolution. Three volleys and the clear lingering notes of “Taps” said farewell.

Enlisting early in the world war, young Kelly became a sailor. After several months’ training in this country he was assigned to transport service. Six times he went back and forth across the Atlantic. On the eve of completing his seventh journey he contracted influenza from which so many on his ship were suffering.

The coast of France was almost in sight when he gave up. When the boat docked he was removed to a hospital. When the second sun was sinking into the mists of the harbor young Kelly “went west.”

He was laid to rest with many other young Yanks in a cemetery adjoining the hospital. This was in October, 1918.

A few weeks ago his body was removed from its grave, put aboard a transport and brought to the United States. While resting with 150 others at the Brooklyn naval pier it was given military honors by officers and men of the navy. Secretary Daniels delivered the eulogy. Then Walter Kelly’s body started on the last lap of its long journey home.

Tonight it is here resting in his native heath.

@THANKS DEB FOR THIS OBIT