John D. Kelly (Korean War soldier)

Storming bunkers to free a pinned platoon

John Doran Kelly was born on July 8, 1928, in Youngstown, Ohio. He served as a private first class and radio operator with Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, during the Korean War.

On May 28, 1952, enemy fire pinned down his platoon. Kelly obtained permission to leave his radio with another Marine and join an assault. He attacked a strongpoint, then a machine-gun bunker. Despite being wounded, he destroyed the bunker and continued toward a third position, where enemy fire mortally wounded him. His example inspired the platoon to advance and secure its objective.

Vice President Richard M. Nixon presented his posthumous Medal of Honor to his mother, Emma Kelly, at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington, D.C., on September 9, 1953. Kelly was buried at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His award records the initiative of a radio operator who volunteered to confront the positions stopping his fellow Marines.

Official Medal of Honor citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio operator of Company C, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With his platoon pinned down by a numerically superior enemy force employing intense mortar, artillery, small-arms, and grenade fire, Pfc. Kelly requested permission to leave his radio in the care of another man and to participate in an assault on enemy key positions. Fearlessly charging forward in the face of a murderous hail of machine-gun fire and hand grenades, he initiated a daring attack against a hostile strongpoint and personally neutralized the position, killing two of the enemy. Unyielding in the face of heavy odds, he continued forward and singlehandedly assaulted a machine-gun bunker. Although painfully wounded, he bravely charged the bunker and destroyed it, killing three of the enemy. Courageously continuing his one-man assault, he again stormed forward in a valiant attempt to wipe out a third bunker and boldly delivered point-blank fire into the aperture of the hostile emplacement. Mortally wounded by enemy fire while carrying out this heroic action, Pfc. Kelly, by his great personal valor and aggressive fighting spirit, inspired his comrades to sweep on, overrun and secure the objective. His extraordinary heroism in the face of almost certain death reflects the highest credit upon himself and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.