Written by and photos by L. M. Land
On September 8, 2025, World War II veteran C.B. Kelley turned 100 years old. His family celebrated on September 9 at the Stone House Farm Event Venue in Bancroft, MI Grandchildren came from as far away as London, England and Oregon and New Mexico in the States.
Born on the east side of Flint, Michigan, Kelley was still in high school when he enlisted in the Marines after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, serving the C company, 22nd Marines, 6th Marine Division on Guam and Okinawa. Atomic bombs were dropped on August 6, 1945 on Hiroshima and August 9, 1945 on Nagasaki, which ended the war in Japan. Kelley was discharged shortly after.
In the meantime, he watched his fellow soldiers die, was shot and recovered enough to go back into war. He also survived dengue fever and many horrors. A link to an interview of Kelley is below if you are interested in hearing him tell his own WWII experience.
Kelley came home from the war and married Leona Kranz on August 30, 1947 and worked for General Motors. They had six children and eleven grandchildren. After 60 years of marriage, Leona passed on December 16, 2007, prior to the birth of their nine great-grandchildren.
Somewhere around the 1960s or 70s, Kelley and his brother-in-law, Robert Kanous leased a cabin on the Upper Peninsula (UP) in beautiful Seney National Wildlife Refuge.
Time for a disclaimer: CB Kelley and Bob Kanous are my uncles. They made a point of making sure all their nieces and nephews, as well as their own children, got to experience “up north”. I have such fond memories of them making pancakes for up to 12 children for breakfast after sending us out to pick huckleberries, and all the adventures at ‘the cabin’.
Kelley in particular would drive us around the UP to see all the gorgeous natural sights. If he even suspected there was something beautiful off the side of the road, he would stop and say “This is America!” and we’d all get out of the car and explore. He also took all the nephews and his sons hunting in the fall, and of course, fishing.
He is also a photographer; his photos would grace family gatherings with slideshows. I enjoyed this more than most other family members, and it inspired me to pick up a camera.
As an adult, I now realize why it was important to him that we children should to stop, to see, and to walk in the UP’s beauty. He fought and risked his life in a very ugly war. He wanted we children to enjoy and grow in this beauty he fought for, and I suspect the north country was healing for him as well.
In his 50s Kelley got a motorcycle and traveled around the United States, locating those he had fought beside who were still alive. At this time, the Internet did not exist, so that was not an easy task.
Kelley also donated a kidney to his adult son Michael when it was needed.
When asked in an interview by Rishi Sharma how he survived the war, Kelley said “It’s the way the Almighty rigged it up. In fact, he spoiled me. It’s in his hands.”
Sharma asked for advice for future generations. Kelley responded that “If you try to do anything without God, you’re…” Kelley’s voice caught. “Without my faith, I couldn’t have made it.”
He also shared advice relevant to all time, peoples and faiths: ”We need to have more respect for one another, help one another. Love thy neighbor as thyself”.
Kelley still lives in what used to be Flint but became Burton, Michigan, and is a devout member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church.
Happy birthday, Uncle Bernie!
CB Kelley’s ribbons
Link to interview of CB Kelley:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr_V1Qyx-pU
This interview is from Remember WWII, interview by Rishi Sharma/ the Stanley W. Esktrom Foundation.
