Captain O'Kelley was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the commander of a RB-50 with the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron. His aircraft was shot down by Soviet aircraft over Sea of Japan on 29 July 1953.

O'Kelley was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.