Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal John D. Kelly was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on June 25, 1944 at Fort du Roule, Cherbourg, France during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company E, 314th Infantry, 79th Infantry Division. Kelly was 23 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 9, 1945 — presented to his widow, Mary E. Kelly, at Logan Armory, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Lucius Crumrine. He later rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant.
Kelly was born on October 7, 1920 in Venango Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Cambridge Springs, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Kelly died on November 23, 1944 in France, at the age of 24. He is buried at A.B.M.C. Epinal Cemetery in Epinal, France.
Kelly is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor 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 machine-gun fire emanating from a deeply entrenched strongpoint on the slope leading up to the fort, Cpl. Kelly volunteered to attempt to neutralize the strongpoint. Armed 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 machine-gun 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 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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
From the archives
John D. Kelly survived his herioc actions on June 25, 1944, which resulted in the Medal of Honor. However, he suffered further battle wounds in the months that followed. He died of those wounds in November 1944. He left behind his parents, several siblings, his wife, and a daughter born while he was serving his country.
Timeline
- October 7, 1920Born in Venango Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
- June 25, 1944Act of valor — Fort du Roule, Cherbourg, FranceAge 23. Company E, 314th Infantry, 79th Infantry Division
- November 23, 1944Died in FranceAge 24.
- February 9, 1945Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyPresented to his widow, Mary E. Kelly, at Logan Armory, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by Colonel Lucius Crumrine.
- Resting placeA.B.M.C. Epinal CemeteryEpinal
