William E Kelly

The Adventures of Seabee Bill William E Kelly

Bill Kelly's story begins on January 1, 1925, in rural Aurora, Illinois, the third of seven children born to an Irish Structural Steel Salesman father and a dedicated German-Irish mother. During his formative years, he toiled through the Great Depression, living off the land and hunting for food while attending school. Later, as an eighteen-year-old Navy Seabee in the South Pacific, he blasted land for roadways and airstrips, built the infamous Marine Drive on Guam, and covered his fellow marines while they advanced on the enemy. From sailing Iron Bottom Sound at Guadalcanal in his homemade boat to surviving an electrical storm that left him temporarily paralyzed, the war formed memories Bill would never forget. At the age of 95, Bill contracted Covid-19 in March of 2020. He entered Providence Newberg Medical Center with body aches, fever, and upper respiratory infection. After discharge a day later, he spent two weeks in quarantine at home while he gained his strength. Feisty as usual, his response to the Covid ordeal was typical - "I survived Guam in WWII, I can get through this bulls**t! "This book is a collection of vignettes and personal reflections that have formed Bill's character and built a strong resolve for his family and country. Humorous yet packed with tidbits of wisdom, this book is sure to inspire anyone who finds this world a challenging place.