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<p>Colonel <em>Thomas Kelly O’Malley</em>, affectionately known to his friends as “Kelly” and to his soldiers as “TKO,” was born in Scranton, PA on August 5, 1937 to Rosemary Catherine Walsh and Willard F. O’Malley. Growing up at the O’Malleys included family roundtable discussions where, as West Point roommate Tom VanRiper put it the “Problems of the World” would be addressed and viewpoints developed, analyzed and refined, skills which Kelly honed and would guide the rest of his life. The Army was fortunate that Kelly, at 12 years old, attended his cousin’s West Point graduation parade in 1949, because he decided at that point that he would attend West Point as well. In his 50th year reunion book Kelly wrote, “How very thankful I am that the influence of attending a parade showed me my life’s direction.”</p>
<p>Kelly attended St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Olyphant, PA for 12 years and became certain of his convictions, then committing himself to the values he held and espoused throughout his life, those being faith, family, and service to God and country.</p>
<p>In 1955, he began his advanced education at Stevens Institute of technology in Hoboken, NJ and, in 1956, was appointed to the United States Military at West Point. According to him he had doubts of USMA only once and that was during his first night of Beast Barracks. After that he decided he knew exactly what he was doing at West Point.</p>
<p>As a cadet, neither rain, sleet, snow nor heat kept Kelly from wearing a path from South Area to the Catholic Chapel each morning during his four years at the Academy.</p>
<p>He excelled at USMA, and in the winter of his plebe year Kelly quickly proved himself as a pugilist on the K-1 boxing team, barely missing a chance at a regimental boxing championship. He starved himself to box in the 132-pound weight class. Years later, he admitted that there were only two contestants in that weight class. </p>
<p>After graduation in 1960, he was commissioned Field Artillery and assigned to Fort Benning, GA for Airborne School. Upon graduation from Airborne and Ranger schools, Kelly was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he met the love of his life, Anne Hutaff. They were married on April 16, 1966 in the Main Post Chapel at Fort Bragg.</p>
<p>Kelly held exacting standards and expected others to live up to them. As a battalion commander he often told new lieutenants that they were part of the highest calling, service for country. He was tough but firm and fair and saw significant changes throughout his military career, from major changes involving weapons systems and tactics to changes in how war would be waged around the globe. From Vietnam to the Cold War to the Global War on Terror, Kelly always managed to keep not only abreast but ahead of any situation he faced. He knew his mission was to prepare his soldiers for combat, and he did his best to ensure that everyone was ready.</p>
<p>His distinguished career included a varied education, attending the Canadian National Defense College and earning a Master of Science in physics from the University of Virginia in 1972 and a Master of Accountancy from George Washington University in 1988. He proudly served a total of 26 years in the U.S. Army.</p>
<p>Kelly used all his ability to serve as a role model in faith and service, not only for his soldiers but most importantly for his family and friends. With his wife, Anne, of 56 years, they moved around the world while they raised two beautiful children, whom Kelly referred to as their blessings: a daughter, Catherine Ferrara, and a son James O’Malley (Suzy). In time they doted on their four grandchildren: Christopher Ferrara (Sydney), Collin Ferrara, Langdon Ferrara, Davis O’Malley; and one great-grandson, Brooks Ferrara.</p>
<p>However, life wasn’t quite as regimented as it once seemed. They moved to Wilmington, NC and, one day, Kelly purchased a boat, which he named “Spontaneity.” Many enjoyable hours fishing and touring were spent on the water after this impulsive purchase. Kelly continued his CPA practice for a total of 30 years. When asked why he didn’t retire, he simply stated, “I have too many customers who depend on me.” He was a devoted soldier, husband, father, grandfather and friend. He lived his life leading by example, visiting family, classmates, and friends and travelling. He was a man of honor, integrity, and great faith who loved God, his family, West Point and friends. When all is summed up, he was a man who loved and was loved.</p>
<p><em>— Anne Hutaff O’Malley and Kelly’s Companymates</em></p>
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