John D. Kelly (World War II soldier)

John D. Kelly (July 8, 1923 – November 23, 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

This article is about the U.S. Army World War II Medal of Honor recipient. For the U.S. Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War, see John D. Kelly (Korean War soldier).
John D. Kelly
Born(1923-07-08)July 8, 1923
Venango Township, Pennsylvania
DiedNovember 23, 1944(1944-11-23) (aged 21)
near Fort du Roule, Cherbourg, France
Place of burial
Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Épinal, France
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1942–1944
RankTechnical Sergeant
Service number33271778
Unit314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsMedal of Honor
Purple Heart (2)

Biography

Kelly joined the Army from Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania in June 1942,[1] and by June 25, 1944 was serving as a Corporal in Company E, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division. On that day, at Fort du Roule, Cherbourg, France, Kelly repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire in order to destroy an enemy emplacement and capture its occupants. He was killed in action five months later, after having been promoted to technical sergeant. For his actions at Fort du Roule, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on January 24, 1945.

Kelly died November 23, 1944 and was buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Épinal, France.[2]

Medal of Honor citation

Kelly's Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 25 June 1944, in the vicinity of Fort du Roule, Cherbourg, France, when Cpl. Kelly's unit was pinned down by heavy enemy machinegun fire emanating from a deeply entrenched strongpoint on the slope leading up to the fort, Cpl. Kelly volunteered to attempt to neutralize the strongpoint. Arming himself with a pole charge about 10 feet long and with 15 pounds of explosive affixed, he climbed the slope under a withering blast of machinegun fire and placed the charge at the strongpoint's base. The subsequent blast was ineffective, and again, alone and unhesitatingly, he braved the slope to repeat the operation. This second blast blew off the ends of the enemy guns. Cpl. Kelly then climbed the slope a third time to place a pole charge at the strongpoint's rear entrance. When this had been blown open he hurled hand grenades inside the position, forcing survivors of the enemy guncrews to come out and surrender. The gallantry, tenacity of purpose, and utter disregard for personal safety displayed by Cpl. Kelly were an incentive to his comrades and worthy of emulation by all.[3]

See also

References
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
  1. WWII Army Enlistment Records
  2. John D. Kelly at Find a Grave
  3. "Medal of Honor recipients – World War II (G–L)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
  • "Kelly John D". World War II Burial Listing. American Battle Monuments Commission. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
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