KELLY, JOHN D. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant (then Corporal), U.S. Army,
Company E, 314th Infantry, 79th Infantry Division. Place and date: Fort
du Roule, Cherbourg, France, 25 June 1944. Entered service at: Cambridge
Springs, Pa. Birth: Venango Township, Pa. G.O. No.: 6, 24 January 1945.
Citation: 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.
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