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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Robert Bolling Kelly (NSN: 0-74949), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession and for extraordinary courage in combat, as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Motor Torpedo Boat THIRTY-FOUR (PT-34) when that vessel in company with the U.S.S. PT-41 made an attack on a Japanese KUMA class light cruiser on the night of 8 – 9 April 1942. Despite extremely heavy shell fire opposition, and the fact that the cruiser was screened by four enemy destroyers, the PT-34 closed to three-hundred yard range and made two successful torpedo hits on the enemy cruiser, finally sinking her. Then, on the following morning in a narrow channel of Cebu Harbor, with three guns of the PT-34 out of action and a hole six feet across blown through her, Lieutenant Kelly maneuvered to save his boat from further direct hits from four attacking enemy dive bombers. He maintained fire against the enemy until all of his remaining guns were out of action, and with five of his crew of six killed or wounded, he beached his boat and, under continual strafing from the enemy, directed the removal of the wounded to a place of safety.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Regiment:

    Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 (MTB-3)

    Division:

    Motor Torpedo Boat 34 (PT-34)

    Action Date:

    April 8 & 9, 1942
    Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 3 (April 29, 1942)

    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 Lieutenant Robert Bolling Kelly (NSN: 0-74949), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Mindanao Sea, Philippine Islands, on 8 and 9 April 1942. When the two vessels of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3) encountered hostile naval vessels on the night of 8 April, Lieutenant Kelly, Commanding the U.S.S. PT-34, moved his ship to the attack of an enemy cruiser. Although his vessel was illuminated by searchlights, under heavy fire, and in the known presence of a second enemy vessel, Lieutenant Kelly proceeded to within 400 yards of the hostile cruiser and delivered a torpedo attack which struck the vessel twice amidships and left it in a sinking condition. Again, on the morning of 9 April, when his ship was attacked by four enemy dive bombers, Lieutenant Kelly withstood the attack for half-an-hour, avoiding much of the hostile fire with his anti-aircraft machine guns so that one of the hostile planes was brought down. When his vessel became unseaworthy and all guns were disabled by hostile fire, he maneuvered his ship so that the survivors might be landed and courageously directed the removal of the dead and wounded to a place of safety remaining with his ship to the last.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander

    Action Date:

    May 3 – June 22, 1945

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander Robert Bolling Kelly (NSN: 0-74949), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving as Commanding Officer of a United States Destroyer during the period from 3 May 1945 to 22 June 1945, in the vicinity of Okinawa Jima. During this period of almost continuous action he repeatedly placed his ship, with coolness and excellent judgment, and in spite of enemy opposition, in positions where it could be employed most effectively against the enemy, thereby destroying one enemy plane, assisting in the destruction of others, while continuing to furnish fire support to our forces ashore and protection to important units of our fleet. His actions contributed materially to the success of our operations against the enemy. His outstanding service and performance of duty were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Commander [then Lieutenant Commander]

    Batallion:

    Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 9 (MTB-9)

    Action Date:

    1943
    Commander Southern Pacific: Serial 00360 (January 31, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Robert Bolling Kelly (NSN: 0-74949), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron NINE (MBT-9), operating against enemy Japanese forces during the New Georgia and Bougainville Campaigns, Solomon Islands Area, in 1943. Displaying expert seamanship and superb courage, Commander Kelly personally led groups of his boats into combat against hostile barges, aircraft and shipping. Despite frequent bombing and fierce gunfire from barges and shore batteries, he daringly attacked the enemy, inflicting heavy damage and casualties. During the New Georgia Campaign, when a boat under his command was in danger of capture by the Japanese, he swam out to the threatened ship in daylight to remove confidential matter in order to prevent its falling into enemy hands and, although sighted and fired upon by a hostile shore battery, succeeded in carrying out his perilous mission. Commander Kelly’s heroic leadership and indomitable fighting spirit reflect great credit upon himself, his command and the United States Naval Service.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 (MTB-3)

    Action Date:

    March 11 – 13, 1942
    Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Order No. 43 (March 15, 1942) & Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 306 (September 1942)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Lieutenant Robert Bolling Kelly (NSN: 0-74949), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as Commanding Officer of Motor Torpedo Boat THIRTY-FOUR (PT-34), Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3), from 11 to 13 March 1942, in the Philippine Islands during a extraordinary action in a retrograde maneuver involving General Douglas MacArthur. With marked skill and coolness, Lieutenant Kelly performed this mission of major strategic importance and of a most hazardous nature in the face of greatly superior enemy forces. His conduct throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Military Forces of the United States.