The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Boatswain’s Mate Harry M. Kelley, United States Navy, for heroic actions as Officer-in-Charge of a small tanker at Vella Lavella on 10 March 1944. Chief Boatswain’s Mate Kelley directed fire-fighting operations when flames enveloped the forecastle and spread to a sub chaser moored on the tanker’s starboard side. When several explosions occurred aboard the sub chaser, he ordered the crew to abandon ship. Later, when the mooring lines burned in two and the sub chaser drifted away, he organized a crew of seven volunteers and returned to the tanker, bringing the fire under control after four hours.