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Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 48th
Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division. Place and date: Alemert,
Germany, 5 April 1945. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Birth: Brooklyn,
N.Y. G.O. No.: 97, 1 November 1945. Citation: He was an aid man with the
1st Platoon of Company C during an attack on the town of Alemert, Germany.
The platoon, committed in a flanking maneuver, had advanced down a small,
open valley overlooked by wooded slopes hiding enemy machineguns and tanks,
when the attack was stopped by murderous fire that inflicted heavy casualties
in the American ranks. Ordered to withdraw, Cpl. Kelly reached safety with
uninjured remnants of the unit, but, on realizing the extent of casualties
suffered by the platoon, voluntarily retraced his steps and began evacuating
his comrades under direct machinegun fire. He was forced to crawl, dragging
the injured behind him for most of the 300 yards separating the exposed
area from a place of comparative safety. Two other volunteers who attempted
to negotiate the hazardous route with him were mortally wounded, but he
kept on with his herculean task after dressing their wounds and carrying
them to friendly hands. In all, he made 10 separate trips through the brutal
fire, each time bringing out a man from the death trap. Seven more casualties
who were able to crawl by themselves he guided and encouraged in escaping
from the hail of fire. After he had completed his heroic, self-imposed
task and was near collapse from fatigue, he refused to leave his platoon
until the attack had been resumed and the objective taken. Cpl. Kelly's
gallantry and intrepidity in the face of seemingly certain death saved
the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and was an example of bravery
under fire.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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