Years of service 1942–1944 Role World War II soldier Rank Technical sergeant Name John Kelly | Battles/wars World War II Battles and wars World War II Service number 33271778 Died November 23, 1944, France | |
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Born July 8, 1923
Venango Township, Pennsylvania ( 1923-07-08 ) Awards Medal of Honor
Purple Heart (2) Place of burial Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Arches, Vosges, France, Epinal, France, France | ||
Service/branch United States Army Allegiance United States of America | ||
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.
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Biography
Kelly joined the Army from Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania in June 1942, 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.
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.