Pocono News Section

Late General Honored in Carbondale

Late General Honored in Carbondale - Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 4:12PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Thursday, May 29, 2008 @ 04:12pm EST

CARBONDALE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Jerome O'Malley left Carbondale and became a General, one of the most powerful men in the United States Air Force. But O'Malley's life ended short when his plane crashed in 1985. This morning, decades later, a standing tribute is given in his home town.

This is how Carbondale is honoring one of their own, General Jerome O'Malley. A bronze statue in memorial park, and a big celebration. O'Malley's family likes what they see. His sister Ellen Kanavy says, "The family is very touched by it."

O'Malley soared to the Air Forces top ranks as a 4 Star General. He was in charge of commands in Hawaii, and Langley Air Force base in Virginia. But his life was cut short in 1985. He and his wife Diane died when their Air Force jet crashed landed at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

Now friends, like one who flew with O'Malley are watching a ceremony they call long overdue. John Storrie says, "It means a lot of Jerry and his family, I can see what it means to them. Seemed like a long time but it's well deserved."

During the ceremony, planes flew overhead, a fitting tribute for an Air Force general. General O'Malley's daughter talked about her father at the ceremony. "My dad used to tell all four of us growing up in the military, when I leave this world I will not leave you much money, but I'll leave you a name that you can always be proud of," she said. And now people living in Carbondale have a statue bearing a name they can be proud of.

General O'Malley also made military history. He was the first to fly the spy plane SR-71 Blackbird during the Vietnam War.