Moments in Time
Moments in Time is a weekly series featuring recollections of area residents. To suggest someone to feature in Moments in Time, please contact Mary Jane Grenzow, editor, at editor@themonroetimes.com.
MONROE - The incredible milestone of reaching 100 is on the horizon for Charles Kelley. Does the 97-year-old Monroe resident think much about it?
"No, not at all," he said. "I just take one day at a time."
However, he has some good genes on his side, seeing as his sister is now 102.
You could argue he has a little invincibility on his side, too.
Kelley, who as a retiree moved to Monroe in 1995 in part for some peace and quiet, has survived three separate attacks on the ship he called home.
But first, a little about his decision to live in Monroe - a story which involves even more fate.
"We were living in Chicago and my wife (Ruth) was ill. No one could figure it out," Kelley said. "Well, we had heard about the Monroe Clinic, and it was there they figured out she had a bad kidney. We had the procedure done in Illinois, but we never forgot about the Monroe Clinic."
When the hustle and bustle of Chicagoland became a bit much, Monroe came back to mind.
"Yes, this town had done us well," Kelley said. "We enjoyed our visits and discovered it was a nice, peaceful place. So we moved here."
Yes, a far cry from traffic and light years away from the horrors of life in the Pacific during World War II.
The adventures Kelley would see in Monroe, meanwhile, center around the blessing that a daughter would follow him, grandkids in tow.
"Fun stuff," he said with a smile.
He can't say the same about Dec. 7, 1941.
Volunteering for the Navy straight off a Mississippi farm as a 20-year-old in 1937, Kelley began as a mess attendant in the ship kitchen. He would be promoted to cook, and was one popular man.
"My favorite thing was roasting a turkey," he said. "Guys were always sticking their head to check on what I was doing."
Stationed on the U.S.S. Helena when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, his ship took on damage but Kelley escaped unscathed.
His next ship was the U.S.S. Houston, which was also hit by a torpedo while at Guadalcanal. Kelley entered a life boat and was picked up by a nearby destroyer in short order.
As for the U.S.S. Helena, it was repaired and sent back out to see, with Kelley joining its ranks once again.
It would get hit a second time, however, and this time Kelley spent 72 hours in the water before he was rescued.
Sadly, even the times he got to enjoy the beauty of the ocean are tainted.
"I would enjoy sitting on the ship's deck in the sunshine, taking in the view," he said. "One day while I was doing that, I looked over at the U.S.S. Juneau, which was cruising along off in the horizon, and then I saw it go down in a puff of smoke. It had been sunk by a torpedo."
After the war, he became an equipment specialist with the Great Lakes Naval Academy in northern Illinois before moving to Chicago, where he spent 20 years.
Today, despite the ordeals he's faced, Kelley said he's a big World War II history buff.
"These days, they are some of my most vivid recollections," he said of his experiences.
He said he's happy he never had to fire a weapon - "I did have to pass along the ammo" during an attack, he said - and is at peace with all he endured.
Back on the topic of his 100th birthday, Ruth Kelley said she thinks about that day and will be recruiting family from as far away as Arizona.
Even Charles Kelley reconsidered when asked what he'd like to do that day, if anything.
"You know what, it will be May, so it should be nice out," he said. "I'd like a good ol' barbeque in the yard. Maybe some spare ribs. I'll have to think about that one."
And with that, our cook's wheels started spinning.
"No, not at all," he said. "I just take one day at a time."
However, he has some good genes on his side, seeing as his sister is now 102.
You could argue he has a little invincibility on his side, too.
Kelley, who as a retiree moved to Monroe in 1995 in part for some peace and quiet, has survived three separate attacks on the ship he called home.
But first, a little about his decision to live in Monroe - a story which involves even more fate.
"We were living in Chicago and my wife (Ruth) was ill. No one could figure it out," Kelley said. "Well, we had heard about the Monroe Clinic, and it was there they figured out she had a bad kidney. We had the procedure done in Illinois, but we never forgot about the Monroe Clinic."
When the hustle and bustle of Chicagoland became a bit much, Monroe came back to mind.
"Yes, this town had done us well," Kelley said. "We enjoyed our visits and discovered it was a nice, peaceful place. So we moved here."
Yes, a far cry from traffic and light years away from the horrors of life in the Pacific during World War II.
The adventures Kelley would see in Monroe, meanwhile, center around the blessing that a daughter would follow him, grandkids in tow.
"Fun stuff," he said with a smile.
He can't say the same about Dec. 7, 1941.
Volunteering for the Navy straight off a Mississippi farm as a 20-year-old in 1937, Kelley began as a mess attendant in the ship kitchen. He would be promoted to cook, and was one popular man.
"My favorite thing was roasting a turkey," he said. "Guys were always sticking their head to check on what I was doing."
Stationed on the U.S.S. Helena when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, his ship took on damage but Kelley escaped unscathed.
His next ship was the U.S.S. Houston, which was also hit by a torpedo while at Guadalcanal. Kelley entered a life boat and was picked up by a nearby destroyer in short order.
As for the U.S.S. Helena, it was repaired and sent back out to see, with Kelley joining its ranks once again.
It would get hit a second time, however, and this time Kelley spent 72 hours in the water before he was rescued.
Sadly, even the times he got to enjoy the beauty of the ocean are tainted.
"I would enjoy sitting on the ship's deck in the sunshine, taking in the view," he said. "One day while I was doing that, I looked over at the U.S.S. Juneau, which was cruising along off in the horizon, and then I saw it go down in a puff of smoke. It had been sunk by a torpedo."
After the war, he became an equipment specialist with the Great Lakes Naval Academy in northern Illinois before moving to Chicago, where he spent 20 years.
Today, despite the ordeals he's faced, Kelley said he's a big World War II history buff.
"These days, they are some of my most vivid recollections," he said of his experiences.
He said he's happy he never had to fire a weapon - "I did have to pass along the ammo" during an attack, he said - and is at peace with all he endured.
Back on the topic of his 100th birthday, Ruth Kelley said she thinks about that day and will be recruiting family from as far away as Arizona.
Even Charles Kelley reconsidered when asked what he'd like to do that day, if anything.
"You know what, it will be May, so it should be nice out," he said. "I'd like a good ol' barbeque in the yard. Maybe some spare ribs. I'll have to think about that one."
And with that, our cook's wheels started spinning.