Volume 9 , Issue 26

Jack & Jean Kelsey's Story

written by Jack Kelsey -- Jack Kelsey was born June 1, 1925 on his father's farm, which he now owns and has been in the Kelsey family for over 90 years. Jack is the last living Kelsey of the Oliver Hadley Kelsey family living in the state of Oklahoma. Oliver Hadley Kelsey was Jack's grandfather.

The Kelsey family came to New York from Ireland during the potato famine. Oliver Kelsey married Lola Rittenhouse, daughter of a Chaplain in the Civil War. After the Civil War, Oliver Kelsey returned to New York where he was a minister of the Methodist church.

In the Oklahoma Run of 1893, Oliver Kelsey staked a homestead 5-1/2 miles northeast of Waynoka. In 1894, Oliver moved his family to the homestead. Oliver hauled lumber from Kansas by team and wagon to build a house on the homestead.

Oliver Hadley Kelsey passed away at an early age and left his wife to raise six children -- Lola was a school teacher.

As a small child, Jack remembers the "Dust Bowl" days very well. He calls those years the "3 D's" -- "Dust, Depression & Drought." It was a very hard time for farmers in that time period, but Jack's dad managed to furnish enough food and necessities for the farm.

They milked cows and sold cream to the "Waynoka Creamery," which was a Co-op. It was located across the street from where the "First State Bank" is located today. Jack's mother had lots of chickens and sold eggs tot he grocery store and most of the time it was enough to buy the groceries.

Jack and his two brothers, Roscoe and Roland -- 12 and 10 years older than Jack -- all went to Rose Valley Grade School, then to Waynoka High School. Jack graduated from Waynoka High School in 1943.

Jack's great passion was flying. At a very young age, Charles Lindburgh established an airport at Waynoka -- across the road from Jack's father's farm. Lindburgh was flying the old "Tri-Motor Ford" airplane. They would land airplanes there in the evening and haul the passengers to town in a very nice bus -- much like our fifth-wheel trailers today. After arriving in Waynoka, they would eat at the "Harvey House" and lounge in their depot. They could take the passenger train that evening and ride to Clovis, New Mexico or they could catch another TAT plane in the morning for California. This lasted only a short time, but the TAT Airport continued to be used extensively.

During World War II, Vance Air Base used the airport for part of their training exercises. Jack saw many airplanes come and go stirring his passion for flying.

Following graduation from high school, Jack drove to Woodward, Oklahoma to take flying lessons. While Jack was in the army, his dad and brothers established a landing field in the pasture on the farm across from the old TAT Airport.

His father purchased a "1946 Aeronca Champion (two-place airplane)" and hired an instructor, who taught many people to fly from "Kelsey Field." Upon returning home from the army, Jack took up flying again and received his private and multi-engine license. Jack owned several airplanes. His last airplane was a twin-engine Cessna.

After graduation from high school, Jack helped his father on the farm until he was drafted into the army. Jack was sent to Camp Livingston, Louisiana, where he received 17 weeks of infantry training. Two historical things happened while at Camp Livingston -- one was the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the other was the end of World War II in Europe.

After Jack finished training at Camp Livingston, he received orders to go to Fort Ord, California where he would receive more training and eventually be transferred to an island in the Pacific where they were gathering troops for the invasion of Japan. Jack boarded a train in Alexander, Louisiana and changed trains in Arkansas to head West to Oklahoma. After getting on the train, he sat down by a lady who introduced herself and said, "Do you know they dropped the Atomic Bomb on Japan?"

Jack replied, "What is an Atomic Bomb?"

The lady replied, "I don't know, but it looks like the war is about over."

While Jack was at home with his family for two weeks in Waynoka, the war ended in the Pacific. When Jack's leave was over, he boarded the train in Waynoka and headed for Fort Ord, California for more training and eventually boarded the Cape Mears Troop ship. Twenty-eight days later, they landed in Manila on the Island of Luzon -- part of the Philippine Islands. Jack and all the soldiers on the ship boarded a freight train and rode to a replacement camp north of Manila near Clark Field. Clark Field was a very important Air Base. Jack was assigned to a Quartermaster Corp near Manila, which was actually a large trucking company hauling supplies all over the Island of Luzon. Jack was interviewed and when they found out he could type, he was placed in charge of the night shift at the shop where they worked on large trucks. Jack held that job for a few months, then was assigned as Battalion Mail Clerk. He had a weapons carrier assigned to him because he had to go to Manila every day to deliver and pick up mail. Jack toured the Island of Luzon extensively -- including the Island of Corregidor which was where General McArthur and his troops made their last stand.

One of the most historical things I ever attended was on July 4, 1946, when United States gave the Philippines their independence. The Philippine people had worked extremely hard to build a large stage for this occasion in downtown Manila. Dignitaries from all over the world flew in for this great occasion. President Harry Truman could not be there, so he sent Senator Tidings and Robert Hannigan, Postmaster General of the United States. Jack made his way down to the front of the stage with his 16mm camera -- there were stairs leading up to the stage. The guards thought Hack was part of the Press and asked if He wanted to get up on the stage to take close-up pictures of all the dignitaries. Jack obliged and obtained an excellent close-up picture of General McArthur. Jack still has that film today.

After serving his time in the army, he was sent back to California for his discharge and returned home to Waynoka, Oklahoma. On November 30, 1946, Jack married his high school sweetheart -- Norma Jean Hull, daughter of John and Grace Hull. Jack & Jean were married in Wellington, Kansas in the home of Brother Judson Woodbridge.

Norma Jean Hull was born and reared on her parents farm southeast of Waynoka and graduated from Walnut Grove Grade school. Jean graduated from Waynoka High School in 1943. Upon graduation from high school, Jean moved to Wichita, Kansas and entered American Business College. On completing this,, Jean went to work for Boeing Aircraft company as a secretary -- working there until the end of the war. From she moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma and enrolled at Oklahoma A&M college. Jean continued her education there until they were married.

Jack & Jean made their home on his father's farm where Jack was born -- moving the house one mile south from his grandfather's farm. They remodeled the house and lived there 18 years. They built a new home and moved to Waynoka in 1965. Jack served as Mayor of Waynoka for 5 years and served on many other committees.

[Editor's Note: We only published a part of Jack & Jean Kelsey's Story here in The OkieLegacy. If you want to read his full story, you may contact the Waynoka Historical Society to see about ordering the history book that they are helping organize and compile with legacies of Waynoka, Oklahoma residents.]
  |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---