Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Regiment:

    143d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    36th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    December 7, 1944

    Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 64 (March 5, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class John A. Kelly, Sr. (ASN: 34899116), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action on 7 December 1944, in France. Private First Class Kelly was a member of a machine gun squad assigned the mission of supporting Company C’s defenses. During a heavy artillery and mortar barrage, he spotted a group of enemy soldiers forming in preparation for an attack. Realizing that it was impossible to fire from his present position, he voluntarily moved his machine gun through direct hostile fire to a vacated automatic rifle emplacement. When an enemy machine gun opened fire on his position, he swiftly put his weapon into action and, with rapid, accurate bursts of fire, wounded several of the crew members and silenced the gun. Later, Private First Class Kelly observed a ten-man patrol approaching the friendly lines. Again opening fire, he killed or wounded all ten of the hostile soldiers. His prompt and aggressive actions enabled his battalion to reorganize and consolidate its defenses.