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Oak Grove Cemetery

Born:  March 27, 1914 at Norwood, MO

Entered Service in the US Army from Norwood, MO

Earned The Medal of Honor During World War II For heroism December 08, 1944 at Leyte, Philippine Islands

Before dawn, near the edge of the enemy-held Buri airstrip, Private Kelley's company was immobilized by heavy, accurate rifle and machinegun 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 one machinegun but failed to dislodge the main body of the enemy. At this critical moment Private Kelley, on his own initiative, left his shallow foxhole with an armload of hand grenades and began a one man assault on the foe. Throwing his missiles with great accuracy, he moved forward, killed or wounded five men, and forced the remainder to flee in a disorganized route. He picked up an M-1 rifle and emptied its clip at the running Japanese, killing three. Discarding this weapon, he took a carbine and killed three 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 two officers and captured two heavy and one light machineguns. Private Kelley continued to press the attack on to an airstrip, where sniper fire wounded him so grievously that he died two days later.