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My Three Sons: Army Medicine thanks an Army family for its service

By Ronald WolfJune 17, 2021

The Kelly family tailgating at Iowa vs. Wisconsin Football Game. The three Kelly sons are all undergrad graduates of University of Wisconsin at Madison and either are or in training to be Army physicians. The back row (left to right) Connor Kelly, Ethan Kelly, Grant Kelly; front row (left to right) Hannah Kelly, Kathy Kelly, and Brett Kelly.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Kelly family tailgating at Iowa vs. Wisconsin Football Game. The three Kelly sons are all undergrad graduates of University of Wisconsin at Madison and either are or in training to be Army physicians. The back row (left to right) Connor Kelly, Ethan Kelly, Grant Kelly; front row (left to right) Hannah Kelly, Kathy Kelly, and Brett Kelly. (Photo Credit: Ronald Wolf) VIEW ORIGINAL
The family is the strength of the Army, and military service is a strong and patriotic tradition in many families. Today, as we near Father’s Day, Army Medicine wants to thank one of its great families. Retired Lt. Col. Brett J. Kelly, Kathy Kelly, and their family are entitled to have an abundance of pride this weekend. The pride of the Kelly family. Left to right: Grant, Connor, and Ethan Kelly.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The family is the strength of the Army, and military service is a strong and patriotic tradition in many families. Today, as we near Father’s Day, Army Medicine wants to thank one of its great families. Retired Lt. Col. Brett J. Kelly, Kathy Kelly, and their family are entitled to have an abundance of pride this weekend. The pride of the Kelly family. Left to right: Grant, Connor, and Ethan Kelly. (Photo Credit: Ronald Wolf) VIEW ORIGINAL

Military service for many Families is a strong and patriotic tradition. Today, as we near Father’s Day, Army Medicine wants to thank one of its great Families. Retired Lt. Col. Brett J. Kelly, wife Kathy, and their family are entitled to have an abundance of pride this weekend.

Brett and Kathy Kelly have three sons serving as physicians or entering medical school as part of the Army Medicine team.

Capt. Connor Kelly, the oldest son, is finishing his first-year emergency medicine residency at Madigan Army Medical Center.

Son number 2, 2nd Lt. Ethan Kelly is starting his 4th year of medical school at Medical College of Wisconsin under a scholarship with the Army Health Professions Scholarship Program.

Youngest son Grant Kelly has been awarded his first choice, which is Army, at the Uniformed Services University (USU) of the Health Science for the upcoming medical student class in the fall of 2021. He will be leaving for officer basic training during the summer of 2021.

The Kelly family takes great pride not only in having three future doctors but also for having three sons who will be serving their country as Army medical officers.

“It is a complete family event,” said Brett Kelly, a retired Army pharmacist. He will have the honor of swearing in all three of his sons as Army officers. In addition, Kathy Kelly is a retired civilian Army pharmacist as well.

All three Kelly sons were born at military medical facilities. Connor at Landstuhl Army Medical Center, Germany; Ethan at Brooke Army Medical Center; and Grant at Luke Air Force Base.

In August, Brett, Kathy, Connor, and Ethan plan on attending the “white coat ceremony” at USU for Grant. The white coat ceremony is a tradition for most medical students. During the ceremony, a white coat, similar to that you have seen many medical professionals wear, is donned by each student entering medical school. The Hippocratic Oath is then recited, marking the beginning of the medical professional’s career.

Service from multiple family members simultaneously comes from a deep family commitment to both service and medicine. The family is the strength of the Army.

Our nation holds the fathers (and mothers) who have served the Nation with dignity and honor, putting the needs of their fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen ahead of their own. The Kelly family is very proud of their children who each serve with professionalism and distinction.

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