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Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Stories of Sacrifice

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World War I - U.S. Marine Corps

John Joseph Kelly

Details
  • 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
Citation

[Received both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor for the same deed.]

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.

Medal of Honor Recipient John J. Kelly
Medal of Honor Recipient John J. Kelly
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Presentation Date & Details: March 17, 1919

    Coblenz, France, presented by Gen. John J. Pershing

  • Born: June 24, 1898, Chicago, Cook County, IL
  • Died: November 20, 1957, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Buried: All Saints Cemetery (4-2-13-12), Des Plaines, IL
 

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