January 26, 2023 Column Father De Celles News
Fr. Daly, Requiescat in Pace. Last Saturday, January 14, in the early hours of the morning, Jesus
called His faithful servant, the Reverend Jerome Richard Daly, to Himself. He was 91 years old, and
a priest for almost 36 years.
Fr. Daly’s death brings great sadness to those who loved, respected and even revered him,
for we have lost the presence of a true friend, great man, a heroic patriot, a caring spiritual father
and a holy priest. But I don’t see how we can be at all sad for him, for surely, “his reward will be
great in heaven.”
(I borrow freely here from several obituaries and online tributes). Fr. Daly was born July 21,
1931, in Oakland, Calif., to John and Dorothy Daly. One of three boys, he attended public schools in
suburban Philadelphia and graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia in 1954. In 1949 he
enlisted in the US Army 111th ( RCT ) Regimental Combat Team, and then re-enlisted in 1958 after
serving as a volunteer firefighter, working at Bell Helicopter as a test pilot, and pursuing a career in
insurance. He served three tours of duty as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He held most ranks from
private to lieutenant colonel, including Chief Warrant Officer.
He was not only one of the most highly decorated soldiers of his generation, he was truly an
outstanding hero. His many awards include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, three Distinguished
Flying Crosses, two Purple Hearts, and the second highest medal our nation can bestow (below
the Medal of Honor): the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
Here is an excerpt of the citation awarding the DSC: “Chief Warrant Officer Daly …on 26
March 1967 …Three [USA] helicopters had been shot down in the contested landing zone and all
rescue attempts had been thwarted by intense enemy fire from fortified emplacements in a treeline
100 meters from the aircraft. …It was decided that Warrant Officer Daly’s aircraft would place a
smoke screen between the insurgents and the rescue aircraft. Although he knew that he would be
required to fly less than 100 meters from a treeline which contained incredible Viet Cong firepower,
he readily gave his consent to the plan. With the pickup aircraft right behind him, Warrant Officer
Daly descended, flew in front of Viet Cong automatic weapons and concealed the rescue
operation with thick smoke. Although the pickup operations were expected to last a very
short time, the downed men were spread throughout the landing area and more evacuation
aircraft were needed. Unhesitatingly, Warrant Officer Daly circled and once again placed a
smoke screen while passing through the hail of enemy fire. By the time all of the men had
been recovered from the field, he had placed himself before the enemy weapons twelve
times. Although he and his crew escaped unscathed, his aircraft was so damaged that it was
judged beyond repair.”
Amazing.
After returning from Vietnam and for the remainder of his army career he continued to make
significant contributions while assigned to key aviation positions, including commander of the 4th
Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. In August 1982, he retired as Lieutenant Colonel. One year later he
was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas.
After his retirement at age 51 from his very successful and celebrated career in the Army, we
can imagine the plethora of lucrative and challenging opportunities in the private or government
consulting sector that awaited him. But Fr. Daly was a man of dedication, service and commitment.
For decades he had given his all in service to God and Country, and now he chose to give his all to
Christ and His Church. He entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in MD in August of 1982. and was
ordained a priest by Arlington Bishop John R. Keating, of happy memory, on May 9, 1987.
Fr. Daly would go on to serve as parochial vicar at St. Ambrose in Annandale (1987-1991),
and St. Leo the Great in Fairfax (1991-1994). He then served as pastor of St. John in McLean (1994-
2000) and St. Michael in Annandale (2000-2004). He retired in 2004, but went on to generously
provide pastoral care for the Catholics at his retirement Community, The Fairfax, and other area
parishes. In particular, he served our parish of St. Raymond’s for much of that time. His last Mass
here was in April of 2021, when his various infirmities made it no longer possible for him to celebrate
public Mass.
I had the honor of serving as Fr. Daly’s vicar at St. Michael’s for two years, his last vicar
before he retired. It’s interesting, and very disappointing to me, to remember that when I first heard
of my assignment to him and St. Michael’s, I did not look forward to it. Put plainly, I thought our
personalities would clash and that I would not do well under a pastor with as strong a hand as his. It
took us a while to get used to each other, but we soon became good friends, and I learned very
much from him. My fondest memory of him is his visit to me when I was deadly ill in the hospital just
a few months after arriving at St. Michael’s. The parish staff later told me that he returned from the
hospital with tears in his eyes and announced that I was dying (I was). When I was miraculously
healed a few days later and returned for several months of slow recovery at the parish, he couldn’t
have been kinder or more encouraging. So much for that tough exterior. He was strong, but a truly
good shepherd, father and brother-priest.
I can attest to his personal strong work ethic, courage, dedication, charity, and holiness. He
was a man of prayer, and a true and holy priest of Jesus Christ. I was honored and humbled to have
him assisting me on weekends here at St. Raymond’s for almost 11 years. In all sincerity, he was
one of the greatest priests I have ever known.
And he loved you all, and profoundly appreciated your prayers. So now in turn we must
pray for his soul—he would be the first to insist on this, and scold us (in that strong, stern-but-kind
fatherly tone of his) if we failed to do so. But I also truly rejoice for him, confident that soon, if not
already, the Lord Jesus will say to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of
your Lord.”
Requiem aeternam dona ei,
Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei.
Requiescat in pace. Amen.
(For more on Father Daly’s biography and accomplishments, see our website.)
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles