"He was an aid man with the 1st Platoon of Company C during an attack on the town of Alemert, Germany. The platoon, committed in a flanking maneuver, had advanced down a small, open valley overlooked by wooded slopes hiding enemy machine guns and tanks,
when the attack was stopped by murderous fire that inflicted heavy
casualties in the American ranks. Ordered to withdraw, Cpl. Kelly
reached safety with uninjured remnants of the unit, but, on realizing
the extent of casualties suffered by the platoon, voluntarily retraced
his steps and began evacuating his comrades under direct machine gun
fire. He was forced to crawl, dragging the injured behind him for most
of the 300 yards separating the exposed area from a place of comparative
safety. Two other volunteers who attempted to negotiate the hazardous
route with him were mortally wounded, but he kept on with his herculean
task after dressing their wounds and carrying them to friendly hands. In
all, he made 10 separate trips through the brutal fire, each time
bringing out a man from the death trap. Seven more casualties who were
able to crawl by themselves he guided and encouraged in escaping from
the hail of fire. After he had completed his heroic, self-imposed task
and was near collapse from fatigue, he refused to leave his platoon
until the attack had been resumed and the objective taken. Cpl. Kelly's
gallantry and intrepidity in the face of seemingly certain death saved
the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and was an example of bravery
under fire."
A truly amazing man,
Brian
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