Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Batallion:

    12th Machine-Gun Battalion

    Division:

    4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    September 29, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 19 (1920)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Charles Kelly (ASN: 562563), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 12th Machine-Gun Battalion, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, France, 29 September 1918. Sergeant Kelly led his platoon in the attack with great bravery against strongly held enemy trenches. Shortly after reaching his objective he was wounded in the throat. He refused to be evacuated, but continued to actively command his men until the night of 1 October by which time, due to his wound, he had lost the power of speech.