Medal of Honor: John Joseph Kelly, World War I, October 3, 1918
At Blanc Mont Ridge, John Joseph Kelly sprinted through his own artillery fire, destroyed a machine gun nest, and returned with eight prisoners. For that feat, he received both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor.
October 3, 2025
Name: John Joseph Kelly
Rank: Private
War: World War I
Date of Action: October 3, 1918
Unit: 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, U.S. Marine Corps
Accredited to: Chicago, Illinois
Summary of Action
In one of the boldest actions of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Private John J. Kelly ran 100 yards ahead of the American line—through his own side’s artillery barrage—to assault a German machine gun nest at Blanc Mont Ridge. He killed the gunner with a grenade, shot another defender with his pistol, and captured the remaining crew, marching eight prisoners back through the same deadly barrage. For this single-handed feat, Kelly was awarded both the Army Medal of Honor and the Navy Medal of Honor, one of only nineteen Americans ever to receive dual recognition. His courage stands as one of the most extraordinary examples of Marine valor in the Great War.
Medal of Honor Citation (Army Medal)
KELLY, JOHN JOSEPH (Army Medal)
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division. Place and date: At Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 1918. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 24 June 1898, Chicago, Ill. G.O. No.: 16, W.D., 1919. (Also received Navy Medal of Honor.)
Citation: Pvt. Kelly ran through our own barrage 100 yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machinegun nest, killing the gunner with a grenade, shooting another member of the crew with his pistol, and returning through the barrage with 8 prisoners.
Medal of Honor Citation (Navy Medal)
KELLY, JOHN JOSEPH (Navy Medal)
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps, 78th Company, 6th Regiment. Born: 24 June 1898, Chicago, Ill. Accredited to: Illinois. (Also received Army Medal of Honor.)
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 1918. Pvt. Kelly ran through our own barrage a hundred yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machinegun nest, killing the gunner with a grenade, shooting another member of the crew with his pistol, and returning through the barrage with 8 prisoners.
