The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Robert A. Kelly (MCSN: 0-88103), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Executive Officer of Company I, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in the Republic of Vietnam on 3 and 5 September 1966. On 3 September, while commanding two Marine reaction forces, First Lieutenant Kelly directed an assault against a Viet Cong trench position; a number of the enemy were killed and some enemy weapons and equipment were captured. When a member of his squad was wounded by hostile fire, First Lieutenant Kelly requested helicopter evacuation. While the approaching rescue aircraft was subjected to heavy automatic weapons fire, he repeatedly exposed himself to direct the fire of his men, thereby diverting the enemy’s attention and enabling the evacuation to be completed safely. On 5 September, he was serving as a Platoon Commander assigned to escort an Ontos to afford security on the left flank of a company sweep. Suddenly the left flank was engulfed in a barrage of mortar explosions, machine gun fire and hand grenades from a Viet Cong force later estimated at battalion strength. A mortar round exploded about five feet behind First Lieutenant Kelly, sending shrapnel through his hand and also wounding six other Marines. After quickly bandaging his own wounds he quickly gathered medical supplies and raced across the fire-torn field to one of his reaction forces which was pinned down by fire and taking casualties. After assisting the squad he returned to his original position and learning that an air strike was to be launched, he responded to a need for a machine gunner on the Ontos. While firing the weapon, First Lieutenant Kelly was hit by a ricocheting round in the shoulder and knocked from his post into the hatch. With grim determination, he regained his position and resumed his covering fire. During this gallant effort, he was hit twice more in the neck. Firmly aware of his responsibilities despite his intense suffering, he calmly radioed to the Company Command Post and forwarded a sound appraisal of the situation in his area before lapsing into unconsciousness. First Lieutenant Kelly’s inspiring leadership, aggressive determination and valiant devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds were contributing factors in containing the hostile attack and thereby reflected the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.