It has been a long time, my friend.  Your picture still accompanies me in my car, along with my broither's. I think of you often, miss you terribly, and love you so.

I just found out today and Doug worked with me for a few years on the CG-48. My deepest thoughts and prayers go out to all the Family members and Sailors that he shared a moment in time. God Speed Buddy!

I just found out last night about Doug passing. I was looking for him on facebook when I found the facebook page and then, this website. I have wanted to write something but words seem so hard to find. I fist met Doug at the ASW base in San Diego he was a couple of months ahead of me and was a roomate of Andy Schwenkhoff. That is how I first met Doug, he'd hurt his leg and I remember a cast or brace, but he was laid up. I'd make runs to Santana's to bring him a burrito, or try and get to the NEX for him if he needed anything. It's funny how upon meeting Doug he immediately just fit into our group. I remember that orginally I wasn't supposed to end up on Yorktown, I was slotted for a ship in Japan, but the next day I found out I was heading to Pascagoula, which was awesome becasue I knew I'd know people.

There was Andy, Doug, jason Braden and Hal Giangrosso. The first night I checked onboard, I was in a different bething as CS was full at the time. I'm sitting there, tryiing to get my bearings afterall I'd been on a ship all of five minutes. I hear the door open and look, and it's Doug Kelly, coming to make sure I'm settled in and to show me around.

I'm not going to say anything that hasn't already been said and that to me, is the greatest testament to the man Doug was. To his parents and family, thank you for sharing Dough with us. You raised a remarkable man who never turned down someone in need, from the smallest favor to a weekend project of fixing a car.

A few years after Yorktown, I was out in San Diego on ASW again, walking down the sidewalk, when all of a sudden, here comes Doug, who says hi, and before I can say hi back asks me if I have a place to spend thanksgiving. That's just who Doug was. I remember the stories of his family, I remember when he became a father, he was completely over the moon.

Doug is what we should all aspire to be, He never knew a stranger, he was quick to make a friend. And he was the same person from when I met him, until the last time I saw him, which was that thanksgiving in San Diego.

My life, and tmie in the Navy were better, for having known Doug. Thank you again for sharing him so selflessly with us. May God Bless you all.

      I just heard the sad news myself moments ago by Randy Williams(another Yorktown sailor on Facebook) My most faithful prayers and heart felt condolences go out to Doug's most loved family and friends. Let's see here,How could one forget an incredible man like Doug???..I remember Doug picking me up at the Biloxi Air Force Medical Center once and it was while I was in deck dept.I remember him picking me up at the Air Force Med. Center while we were on duty in a BIG OLD, white, rickety, Navy duty truck....Haha!! ,We stopped in briefly to grab a quick bite to eat,parked  briefly and got to talking. Well,..he really wasn't supposed to but he was concerned that I hadn't had anything to eat while being treated medically ). I remember being quite impressed with what a smart,well rounded and all in all GOOD DECENT PERSON that he was . I asked him for Navy career advice from a Seaman that I was to a third class petty officer which he was.(I am not used to telling anyone that I run across in life this kind of thing) I told him that he is the most ideal man  that I knew of,  that if I had a son I would want my boy to be just like Doug . He smiled with a very gracious, somewhat surprised,happy ,jovial expression and Thanked me very warmly  with complete humility. I remember he would not only smile geniunely on his face but in his eyes he would smile.                                                                                                   We shared some hearty laughs talking about how humorous some of the characters and leaders in deck division were.He always reminded me of the very kind of man/sailor who came from the WW2 generation(his strength of character,courage,cool level head, ,personable personality,never kissing up to higher ups, and very patriotic heart) a certain happy ,fun old fashioned old fashioned WW2  personality a  lot like the BIG Gipper...lol.
       He's known by all of us for not only being very decent and kind but for his comical approach to problems on the Yorktown and being VERY insightful, HE WAS like the sailor that I always wanted to emulate on the ship and that made me feel that if there was ever anything wrong that we could turn to him for help as a leader or brother like friend on the ship or just someone to talk to later on when I became a Torpedoman's Mate and started working for him. In general Doug always just made you feel that there was really NOTHING to worry about in the face of military stress and adversity.WOW!!,What a GREAT feeling to KNOW that good ol' Doug is in such a BEAUTIFUL perfect, cool place right now,...and if you think about it,... So do you.

Thought of you today, But that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have is memories and a picture in a frame. Your memory is a keepsake, in which I'll never part. God has you in his keeping, I have you in my heart..

Miss you Doug. Love you so much. This pain never dulls.

I just heard of Doug's passing and shocked to hear the bad news. My condolence to Doug's family.  I knew him in Recruiting in New York.  Rest in peace my friend and i know your spirit will live on with all who knew you.

 

 

As we all think of our dear friend, brother, son, uncle, father, cousin, etc. Doug Kelly I am sure we all have heavy hearts. The 1 year mark has just past since Doug’s passing and it doesn’t seem like our wounds have even started to heal. The heart still aches and the sadness/emotions still hit hard, some days worse then others. Whoever said time heals all wounds must not have known someone like Doug and then lost them.

 

Doug was an amazing person! Doug had a heart of gold. He was an amazing friend. A person who didn’t know how to say no to someone in trouble (whether the problem BIG or small). A person who knew, how to have fun and make friends wherever he went. A person who knew, how to surprise people in the greatest ways (whether by a phone call, a letter, a visit, a text, etc). A person who knew, how to make a person laugh at the silliest things. A person who knew, how to listen when someone needed an ear. A person who knew, how to lend a shoulder when someone needed to shed a tear. A person who knew, when a person was in need of a friend without them ever saying a word. There are so many ways to describe the person Doug was. As I have always said, if Doug came into your life for even 1 min. he left an impression for a lifetime.

 

To me he was a friend, a friend that I was blessed to meet from day one, a friend that has meant the world for me for 14 years even though some time was missing, a friend that will mean the world to me forever! Doug will always and forever hold a special place in my heart! Doug will never be forgotten; the memories he has bestowed upon me are cherished and will always be held near and dear.   

 

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was blessed to have known Doug sometime in their lives as this one year anniversary has come and gone and as the thoughts of last year and all the years’ prior creep into our minds maybe a little more then usual.

 

Doug please be with us all in our times of need and/or in our times of celebrations now and forever!

 

Thank you Doug!

Thank you for everything.

 

We all LOVE you!

We all MISS you!

As we enter the New Year, many of us are likely reflecting on the past twelve months.  As we recall the heartaches and sadness, let us also reflect on the new friendships that have formed and the truths we have discovered.  I believe this is the legacy that our friend would want to leave for us all... each in our own unique way.  May 2009 bring each and every one of us peace, love, health, and happiness.