"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty. Before dawn, near the edge of the
enemy-held Buri airstrip, the company was immobilized by heavy, accurate
rifle and machine gun fire from hostile troops entrenched in bomb
craters and a ditch less than 100 yards distant. The company commander
ordered a mortar
concentration which destroyed 1 machine gun but failed to dislodge the
main body of the enemy. At this critical moment Pvt. Kelley, on his own
initiative, left his shallow foxhole with an armload of hand grenades
and began a 1-man assault on the foe. Throwing his missiles with great
accuracy, he moved forward, killed or wounded 5 men, and forced the
remainder to flee in a disorganized route. He picked up a M-1 rifle and emptied its clip at the running Japanese, killing 3. Discarding this weapon, he took a carbine
and killed 3 more of the enemy. Inspired by his example, his comrades
followed him in a charge which destroyed the entire enemy force of 34
enlisted men and 2 officers and captured 2 heavy and 1 light
machine guns. Pvt. Kelley continued to press the attack on to an
airstrip, where sniper fire wounded him so grievously that he died 2
days later. His outstanding courage, aggressiveness, and initiative in
the face of grave danger was an inspiration to his entire company and
led to the success of the attack."
From Pvt. Kelley's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on October 19, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Mel
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