WESTERN UNION

COPY

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

JANUARY 9, 1942

NIGHT PRESS COLLECT

MR. R.W. SIMPSON, MANAGING EDITOR

TAMPA MORNING TRIBUNE

TAMPA, FLORIDA

IN ONE OF THE FIRST ENGAGEMENTS OF THE JAPANESE WAR, CAPTAIN COLIN P. KELLY, JR., OF MADISON, FLORIDA, SERVING WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY AIR CORPS IN THE PHILIPPINES DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY AN EXCEPTIONAL FEAT OF COURAGE AND MILITARY DARING. AS THE PILOT OF AN ARMY BOMBING PLANE HE FLEW THROUGH A BARRAGE OF ANTI- AIRCRAFT FIRE TO SCORE THREE DIRECT HITS AT CLOSE RANGE ON THE ENEMY BATTLESHIP HARUNE, SENDING HER TO THE BOTTOM. HIS SINGULAR ACHIEVEMENT WILL EVER BE REMEMBERED AND STANDS AS AN INSPIRATION TO EVERY PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA ARE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF THE VALIANT ACTION OF ONE OF THEIR SONS. IN CARRYING OUT HIS MISSION, CAPATIN [SIC] KELLY MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR HIS COUNTRY. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE AND HIS YOUNG SON, "CORKY", COLIN P. KELLY, III, FOR WHOM PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAS ASKED A FUTURE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT TO WEST POINT. PATRIOTIC AND SYMPATHETIC AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THE NATION HAVE VOLUNTARILY AND FREELY CONTRIBUTED TO SWELL THE GROWING FUND [**] WHICH WILL ASSURE CORKY'S SUPPORT AND EDUCATION UNTIL HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY. THE CREATION OF THIS FUND FOR THE CARE OF LITTLE CORKY KELLY EXPRESSES A WHOLLY SINCERE, SPONTANEOUS AND GRATEFUL TRIBUTE TO THE HEROISM OF HIS FATHER AND SPEAKS IN THE HIGHEST TERMS OF THE WHOLEHEARTED LOYALTY AND SPIRIT OF UNITY OF OUR PEOPLE. I HAVE WATCHED WITH INTEREST HOW THE FUND HAS MOUNTED AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT PEOPLE ALL OVER FLORIDA WILL WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY OF CONTRIBUTING TO LITTLE CORKY'S EDUCATION FUND.

SPESSARD L. HOLLAND

GOVERNOR

CC: MR. WRENN

MR. GRIFFIS

[handwritten notes] generously sponsored by the Tampa Tribune,  deleted in copies to Wrenn + Griffis