John J. Kelly
John Kelly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May of 1917, deploying to France in January of 1918. He was assigned to the 6th Marine Regiment when it moved to the front lines in France. By October 1918 his unit was opposite the German positions at Blanc Mont Ridge, which had been held by the Germans since 1915. The long occupation had allowed the Germans to erect considerable defensive positions, with interlocking paths of machine gun fire and well-sighted artillery. The 6th Marines were attempting to dislodge the Germans from the heights.
As they moved forward, under heavy artillery barrage, Kelly observed one machine gun position directly ahead of him which was causing numerous casualties among the advancing Marines. Rather than take cover from the incoming fire, Kelly sprinted toward the German emplacement, throwing a grenade into the machine gun nest and then opening fire with his pistol. Kelly then pinned down eight German troops with gunfire before accepting their surrender. He then marched all eight back to the American lines, again through the artillery barrage.
Kelly was awarded Medals of Honor by both the US Army and Navy, receiving his Army award from General John Pershing while wearing his Navy version awarded earlier. When Kelly was awarded his Army Medal of Honor he took precedence over several generals waiting to receive their awards because though only a private, he was already wearing a Medal of Honor.
For his actions at Blanc Mont Ridge Kelly was also awarded three silver stars to be worn with his Victory Medal. Kelly was also awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Army. Like many highly decorated Americans of all services he was recognized for his conspicuous heroism under fire, and no doubt his actions saved many American lives. But there were many other American heroes of the First World War who never received such adulation.
The young Americans who served in the American Expeditionary Forces had to undergo conditions which had never been seen in warfare. Mechanized killing, poison gas, attacks from aircraft and the introduction of armored assault were all new terrors on the battlefield. Combined with the miserable lifestyle of living in holes in the ground, bad food, disease, and the shattered landscape of Europe, all who were there were heroes. Many of those who survived the combat did so only to succumb to the influenza pandemic which followed in the war’s wake.
World War One is often called the Forgotten War, its memory displaced by the Second World War which the treaty ending World War One helped create. It should not be forgotten. Far from being the War to End All Wars, its results still resonate, particularly in the Middle East. It produced heroes from each of its participant nations. They deserve to be remembered.
Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Luke, Frank Jr.”, entry, The National Aviation Hall of Fame, nationalaviation.org
“Pershing; Lessons in Leadership”, by Jim Lacey
“Legends and Traditions of the Great War: Alvin York”, by Dr. Michael Birdwell
“Lost at Sea for 24 Days”, by Thomas Fleming, American Heritage Magazine, Fall 2008
“Rickenbacker’s Luck – An American Life”, by Finis Farr
“The Lost Battalion”, by Joe McCarthy, American Heritage Magazine, October 1977
“Samuel Woodfill: America’s Greatest Doughboy”, by Dawn Mitchell, Indy Star, January 2017
“Bradley, Willis W.”, entry, Naval History and Heritage Command, NHHC online
“Louis Cukela”, entry, Arlington National Cemetery, online
“James Norman Hall, the Man”, Find a Grave, online
“Private John J. Kelly Web Page”, United States Marine Corps History Division online