1st LT. Larry Kelly
U.S. Army - Signal Officer
35th Signal Brigade/327th Signal Battalion/514th Signal Co.
1980-1988
U.S. Army - Signal Officer
35th Signal Brigade/327th Signal Battalion/514th Signal Co.
1980-1988
Larry Kelly was born in Norristown, PA in 1963. The family moved to Rome, NY. where his father was employed by Rome Cable as an electrical engineer. The family later moved to Montvale, NJ where Larry and his three siblings spent their childhood years. “I had the All American upbringing. I had two paper routes. Boy Scouts. I liked to play baseball and football. At the time Montvale was an old fashioned town with parades. It was old school Americana.” He was an Eagle Scout and an Alter Boy. He rode his bike everywhere with his baseball glove and ball in the basket on the back. A childhood that would have made Norman Rockwell proud.
Larry’s family has a long history of military service. His great grandfather fought in the Spanish-American War alongside Teddy Roosevelt and SGT. James Kelly of the 71st Pennsylvania, fought at Gettysburg during the Civil War.
Larry went to St. Joe’s High School in Montvale where he played football. During his senior year of high school, a neighbor came to talk to Larry about joining the National Guard and how it could help defray the cost of college. Larry decided he would like to give it a try and In December of 1980 he was sworn in and assigned to the 101st Signal Battalion - Company D. He took part in the National Guard training, came back to graduate high school in 1981 and then headed to Fort Dix for 8 weeks of basic training.
When Larry returned to Montvale his recruiter, SGT. O’Halloran, suggested he consider attending Dominican College. Larry enrolled and he saw an ROTC table on campus and they asked Larry if he would like to consider becoming an officer. “Will I make more money?” The answer was yes, and Larry signed up. Much to his surprise he was able to skip two years of the program because he had done his basic training with the National Guard. At the end of his freshman year Larry went to the ROTC Advanced Camp at Fort Bragg. “I remember when I got there it was like a country club. I remembered Fort Dix and I remembered staying up all night polishing floors and being up at 5am doing PT.” This training was pretty light compared to his basic training at Fort Dix. Larry was ranked 3rd out of his class of 33 without really trying.
Larry returned to Dominican College as a Cadet Major and the Detachment Commander for Dominican College and was later promoted to LT. Colonel. During this time Larry continued to fulfill his commitment with the National Guard and worked at a men’s clothing store to help pay his tuition.
Larry met Madonna, his future wife in March of 1983 and the same year was commissioned as an officer at the age of 19. Larry graduated with a marketing degree in 1985 but the job market was weak. Larry considered joining the Army. He took the test, was accepted, and was sent to Fort Gordon in Georgia for Signal Officer Basic Camp. At the conclusion of basic, he received orders to Fort Bragg. He reported as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the 514th Signal Company. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. Larry understood his success was tied to the efforts “of his guys”. If he took care of them, they would take care of him.
In June there was a big exercise called Galant Eagle 86. His company needed to transport their equipment to California. They loaded the equipment on a train and Larry and three enlisted men rode on the back of a caboose from North Carolina to California. “One of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Looking at every state between North Carolina and California. Just sittin’ out lookin’ at America.”
Larry’s unit was responsible for establishing communications between their location at Gallant Eagle back to Fort Bragg using an antenna “the size of a football field.” Their primary focus was to ‘send a shot’. This meant sending a communication signal back to Fort Bragg, lock it in and maintain it. Gallant Eagle was near Barstow California in the middle of the desert and it was hot. Larry’s crew was very resourceful and after rummaging through a junk yard they came up with an air conditioning system for their tents.
In April of 1987 Larry and Madonna were married and bought a home near Fort Bragg.
Larry relayed several stories of his time in the service with a common theme. Larry was successful because he always took care of the men under his command as well as his superior officers. Humility and being thoughtful went a long way. It was often the little things that left a lasting impression on people. Because Larry and his men were always squared away and well liked, this meant Larry and his men had a lot of fun while serving their country. In 1988 Larry left the service with the status of inactive reserve.
Larry took a job with Verizon and he and Madonna had two daughters along the way. One day his co-worker asked if he wanted to go back for a master’s degree. Verizon would pay the cost. At the age of 50 he decided to show his daughters, Brianna and Katherine, that you can have a full life while working full time and going to school. Larry enrolled in Dominican College and got his master’s degree in business management.
Larry developed ringing in his ears. An MRI disclose an acoustic neuroma which is a non-cancerous tumor. Radiation took care of the tumor, but Larry lost hearing in one ear. Larry said Verizon made every accommodation he needed but his doctors told him he had to quit. After 25 years with Verizon, he retired in 2018.
Larry and Madonna have been married for 36 years and these days he volunteers his time at the local American Legion and a veteran’s organization in Nyack, NY called Bridges. He loves the camaraderie of the guys who served in the military. He said his wife is also getting involved because she thinks the guys are great! He and Madonna also love spending their time with their granddaughter, Lily Rose.
“All things are good. My wife helps me because she always has a smile on her face. I enjoy life.”
Larry, thank you for serving your country and making it fun and memorable for your guys!
Larry’s family has a long history of military service. His great grandfather fought in the Spanish-American War alongside Teddy Roosevelt and SGT. James Kelly of the 71st Pennsylvania, fought at Gettysburg during the Civil War.
Larry went to St. Joe’s High School in Montvale where he played football. During his senior year of high school, a neighbor came to talk to Larry about joining the National Guard and how it could help defray the cost of college. Larry decided he would like to give it a try and In December of 1980 he was sworn in and assigned to the 101st Signal Battalion - Company D. He took part in the National Guard training, came back to graduate high school in 1981 and then headed to Fort Dix for 8 weeks of basic training.
When Larry returned to Montvale his recruiter, SGT. O’Halloran, suggested he consider attending Dominican College. Larry enrolled and he saw an ROTC table on campus and they asked Larry if he would like to consider becoming an officer. “Will I make more money?” The answer was yes, and Larry signed up. Much to his surprise he was able to skip two years of the program because he had done his basic training with the National Guard. At the end of his freshman year Larry went to the ROTC Advanced Camp at Fort Bragg. “I remember when I got there it was like a country club. I remembered Fort Dix and I remembered staying up all night polishing floors and being up at 5am doing PT.” This training was pretty light compared to his basic training at Fort Dix. Larry was ranked 3rd out of his class of 33 without really trying.
Larry returned to Dominican College as a Cadet Major and the Detachment Commander for Dominican College and was later promoted to LT. Colonel. During this time Larry continued to fulfill his commitment with the National Guard and worked at a men’s clothing store to help pay his tuition.
Larry met Madonna, his future wife in March of 1983 and the same year was commissioned as an officer at the age of 19. Larry graduated with a marketing degree in 1985 but the job market was weak. Larry considered joining the Army. He took the test, was accepted, and was sent to Fort Gordon in Georgia for Signal Officer Basic Camp. At the conclusion of basic, he received orders to Fort Bragg. He reported as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the 514th Signal Company. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. Larry understood his success was tied to the efforts “of his guys”. If he took care of them, they would take care of him.
In June there was a big exercise called Galant Eagle 86. His company needed to transport their equipment to California. They loaded the equipment on a train and Larry and three enlisted men rode on the back of a caboose from North Carolina to California. “One of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Looking at every state between North Carolina and California. Just sittin’ out lookin’ at America.”
Larry’s unit was responsible for establishing communications between their location at Gallant Eagle back to Fort Bragg using an antenna “the size of a football field.” Their primary focus was to ‘send a shot’. This meant sending a communication signal back to Fort Bragg, lock it in and maintain it. Gallant Eagle was near Barstow California in the middle of the desert and it was hot. Larry’s crew was very resourceful and after rummaging through a junk yard they came up with an air conditioning system for their tents.
In April of 1987 Larry and Madonna were married and bought a home near Fort Bragg.
Larry relayed several stories of his time in the service with a common theme. Larry was successful because he always took care of the men under his command as well as his superior officers. Humility and being thoughtful went a long way. It was often the little things that left a lasting impression on people. Because Larry and his men were always squared away and well liked, this meant Larry and his men had a lot of fun while serving their country. In 1988 Larry left the service with the status of inactive reserve.
Larry took a job with Verizon and he and Madonna had two daughters along the way. One day his co-worker asked if he wanted to go back for a master’s degree. Verizon would pay the cost. At the age of 50 he decided to show his daughters, Brianna and Katherine, that you can have a full life while working full time and going to school. Larry enrolled in Dominican College and got his master’s degree in business management.
Larry developed ringing in his ears. An MRI disclose an acoustic neuroma which is a non-cancerous tumor. Radiation took care of the tumor, but Larry lost hearing in one ear. Larry said Verizon made every accommodation he needed but his doctors told him he had to quit. After 25 years with Verizon, he retired in 2018.
Larry and Madonna have been married for 36 years and these days he volunteers his time at the local American Legion and a veteran’s organization in Nyack, NY called Bridges. He loves the camaraderie of the guys who served in the military. He said his wife is also getting involved because she thinks the guys are great! He and Madonna also love spending their time with their granddaughter, Lily Rose.
“All things are good. My wife helps me because she always has a smile on her face. I enjoy life.”
Larry, thank you for serving your country and making it fun and memorable for your guys!