- SURNAME
Kelley
- FORENAME
Thomas R.
- UNIT
327 Infantry Regiment (Airborne) (Company C,1 Bn)
- RANK
Specialist Fourth Class
- NUMBER
16877764
- AWARD
Silver Star,Bronze Star
- PLACE
South Vietnam 1967
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/kelley-thomas-r.19082/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Thomas R. Kelley (ASN: RA-16877764), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 18 August 1967, in the vicinity of Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Kelley distinguished himself with the utmost in personal courage and sacrifice as his platoon became heavily engaged with a Viet Cong force of undetermined size firing from well-concealed positions with automatic weapons. The platoon was pinned down. Upon determining the exact location of the machine gun position which was inflicting the heavies casualties, Private Kelley, completely disregarding his own safety, charged forward about 30 meters to assault the position. As he ran though the open area, he continually placed effective fire on the enemy. As he neared the insurgent's position, he fell seriously wounded. Undaunted by his wound and displaying gallantry of the highest magnitude, he crawled forward through the brutal fire until he was close enough to the enemy to throw a grenade which destroyed the emplacement and killed the insurgents. A few moments later he was again wounded by a burst of machinegun fire, this time fatally. Private First Class Kelley never relented in his task of resisting the enemy by all means available; the unquestionable valor of his heroic and determined effort have distinguished him and has brought the greatest of credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/501373FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6853902/thomas-r-kelley
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