
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
World War I - U.S. Marine Corps
John Joseph Kelly
- Rank: Private
- Conflict/Era: World War I
- Unit/Command:
78th Company, 6th Regiment,
2d Division - Military Service Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
- Medal of Honor Action Date: October 3, 1918
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Blanc Mont Ridge, France
[Received both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor for the same deed.]
Army Medal of Honor: Pvt. Kelly ran through our own barrage 100 yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machine-gun nest, killing the gunner with a grenade, shooting another member of the crew with his pistol, and returning through the barrage with eight prisoners. Navy Medal of Honor For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 1918. Pvt. Kelly ran through our own barrage a hundred yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machine-gun nest, killing the gunner with a grenade, shooting another member of the crew with his pistol, and returning through the barrage with eight prisoners.

- Accredited to: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Presentation Date & Details: March 15, 1919
Coblenz, Germany, presented by Gen. John J. Pershing
- Born: June 24, 1898, Chicago, Cook County, IL, United States
- Died: November 20, 1957, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
- Buried: All Saints Cemetery (4-2-13-12), Des Plaines, IL, United States