b. 24/06/1898 Chicago, Illinois. d. 20/11/1957 Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 03/10/1918 Blanc Mont Ridge, France.
John J Kelly MOH
Kelly was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 24, 1898. He enlisted as a private in the United States Marine Corps on May 15, 1917, in Port Royal, South Carolina. On September 5, 1917, he joined the 7th Company, 6th Regiment, at Quantico, Virginia, and on September 12, 1917, he was transferred to the 78th Company. On January 19, 1918, his regiment embarked from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the USS Henderson and arrived at St. Nazaire, France on February 5, 1918.
Private Kelly participated in engagements at Château-Thierry, St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. In the desperate fighting at Blanc Mont Ridge, he ran “100 yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machine-gun nest”, for which he was awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor. He became one of 19 double recipients of the Medal of Honor.
He also participated in the march to the Rhine River and in the occupation of the Koblenz Bridgehead, from November 17, to December 12, 1918. Pvt Kelly was honorably discharged, with character “Excellent” at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia on August 14, 1919.
The circumstances of Pvt Kelly’s Medal of Honor decoration were unique. It was pinned on his chest by General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief, American Expeditionary Forces, while Pvt Kelly was with the Army of Occupation in Coblenz, Germany on March 15, 1919. With him in line, waiting for other decorations were U.S. Army Major Generals Joseph T. Dickman, Charles Henry Muir, William G. Haan and John L. Hines. His foreign decorations include the French Médaille militaire, the French Croix de Guerre with bronze palm and bronze star; the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra and the Montenegrin Medal for Military Bravery.
At the time of his death on November 20, 1957, his address was listed as Chicago, Illinois and he is buried at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois. He was the last surviving of the 19 double recipients of the Medal of Honor.
MOH CITATION:
[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.
BURIAL LOCATION: ALL SAINTS CEMETERY, DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS.
SECTION 2, BLOCK 4, LOT 13, GRAVE 12.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
