A D A K
On 13 December 1960 Naval Authorities
at the U. S. Naval Station, Adak, Ala-,
ska became aware of a rumor to the.
effect that an imposter ,was serving
withthe Navy,aboard this station. In
tensive investigation brought the fol
lowing story to light. t • , •
Richard Allen Kelly Jr., FA, 370 42
15, USNj was detached from the USS Por
terfield (DD 682 ) in.September of 1960.
With orders to report for duty to the
U.S. Naval Station, Adak, Alaska. Ric
- bard took leave and returned home to*
7501 West Avenue I, Lancaster* Calif.
-.Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Kelly Sr.,
Richard’s parents, were happy to have
their son home for a visit. *
a While Richard was home the resembl- •
ance "between Richard and his brother
William became very apparent when Ric
hard's girlfriend mistakenly thought
William was' Richard. This situation
caused .! William to begin the strange
plan that later backfired. William,
born . May 10th, 1943, being 17 years
old, had finally persuaded his father
to allow him to enlist in * the Navy.
William had always dreamed of the day
-. when he could don the familiar bell-*
bottomed trousers. He talked his older
brother, Richard, into swapping ident
ities, in order that he might -report
for duty for a few days in his brother's
place so that -he could see what Navy
life was really like. Brother Richard
-■agreed to the hoax and planned to swi
tch back again before William boarded
the plane to Adak, Alaska.
Everything went well at first but
then the plan hit a unexpected snag.
The plane to Adak was scheduled to de
part for Adak two days sooner than the
Kelly brothers had anticipated. Will
iam and RiGhard were unable to resume
their true identities -and Willian fou
nd himself hurried aboard the plane,
.complete with brother Richard’s seabag,
orders, and *I.D. calrd.
William, understandably upset,could
see no. way out of his dilemma and de
cided to try to take his brother's
place for the duration of the one year
(continued- next column) ‘ *
tour,-at Adak. Young William stepped
off the plane at' Adak as Richard A*
Kelly,* Jr. on 14 October 1960. The
youngster managed to conceal his true
identity until 13 December 1960. Mean
while the true Richard, absent member
of the Naval Service, assumed his bro
ther William*s name and got a-job in
Burbank, California.
William John Kelly, alias Richard
Allen Kelly, upon being questioned
after the investigation, stated, "I
really like the Navy and I think Adak,
is a nice place. I have enjoyed my
stay but unfortunately I missed the
annual salmon run up here." William
then became thoughtful and asked, "Do
you think this will hurt my chances oflj
joining the Navy? I want to enlist
because I like it fine.
The only promise that the Legal Of
ficer could make to William was that
he would be sent home before Christmas.
In the meantime Richard Allen Kelly,
Jr. Alias, William John Kelly, will be
picked up by Naval Authorities as a
deserter, and will not be home for
Christmas.
FRA N r W S
Those personnel on Adak who may re
member those old fashioned Box Lunches
with everything in them from soup to
nuts missed a chance to enjoy some ver^
exquisite cooking if they missed F.R.A.
Auxiliary’s Box Lunch Social held Sat -
urday, 17 December, Man WHAT WONDERFUL
CHOW, as TAYLOR, BM3 would say.
Plans for New Years for FRA Members
and their eligible guests includes
A Punch Bowl set up with a bit o f
the old and a,bit of the new in its in
gredients that will calm and quench the
thirst of even the Ghost of the Williw
aws •
Music - at this time unannounced and
unplanned but with a committee headed by
Don Hewkin, YN2, Central Files and MSGTT
Ball of the Marine Barracks and ADAK’s
own DEXHEIMER of Public Works all work
ing to ‘find music for the evening.
The Home has been decorated,, favors
have been ordered for participants and
more details later,
Vor FRA Reporter sends.