Thomas Henry Kelly Jr, born May 15, 1927 in Mobile Alabama. Tom spent his youth on the Needle Coast as they called the salt flats in and around Mobile Bay. Tom joined the United States’ Navy at the age of 17. He wanted to be part of America’s military. He became an Aerial Gunner and International Morris Code operator. The war ended and Tom went on to Auburn University to obtain a degree in Forestry.
When the Korean war began, Tom was called up again as an officer. He retired from the United States Army as a Colonel. During his years as a forester, Tom often wrote short stories about Wild Turkeys and turkey hunting. His wife, Helen suggested that he put those ideas into a book. In 1973 Tom self-published what has become known as the “Bible of Wild Turkey Hunting,” Tenth Legion.
