Medal of Honor: Thomas J. Kelly – World War II – April 5, 1945

Name: Thomas J. Kelly
Rank: Corporal
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Medical Detachment, 48th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division
Date of Action: April 5, 1945
Location: Alemert, Germany

Summary of Action

On 5 April 1945, Corporal Thomas J. Kelly was serving as an aid man with the 1st Platoon of Company C during an attack on the town of Alemert, Germany.

The platoon advanced in a flanking maneuver down a small open valley bordered by wooded slopes.

Hidden on those slopes were enemy machine guns and tanks.

Suddenly, murderous fire tore into the Americans and inflicted heavy casualties.

The platoon was ordered to withdraw.

Kelly reached safety with the uninjured survivors, but once he realized how many wounded men had been left behind, he made a decision few would make.

He turned around and went back alone.

Under direct machine-gun fire, Kelly crawled across the exposed valley floor, dragging wounded soldiers behind him over nearly three hundred yards to relative safety.

Two other volunteers who attempted to help were mortally wounded.

Kelly stopped to treat their wounds and carry them back as well.

Then he returned again.

And again.

In all, he made ten separate trips through the deadly fire, each time rescuing another wounded comrade from the trap.

Seven additional casualties who could still move were guided and encouraged by Kelly as they crawled their way out under fire.

Only after completing this extraordinary mission and nearing collapse from exhaustion did he pause.

Even then, he refused to leave his platoon until the attack resumed and the objective had been taken.

Thomas J. Kelly’s courage, endurance, and total devotion to the lives of others saved many men and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

KELLY, THOMAS J.

He was an aid man with the 1st Platoon of Company C during an attack on the town of Alemert, Germany. The platoon, committed in a flanking maneuver, had advanced down a small, open valley overlooked by wooded slopes hiding enemy machineguns and tanks, when the attack was stopped by murderous fire that inflicted heavy casualties in the American ranks. Ordered to withdraw, Cpl. Kelly reached safety with uninjured remnants of the unit, but, on realizing the extent of casualties suffered by the platoon, voluntarily retraced his steps and began evacuating his comrades under direct machinegun fire. He was forced to crawl, dragging the injured behind him for most of the 300 yards separating the exposed area from a place of comparative safety. Two other volunteers who attempted to negotiate the hazardous route with him were mortally wounded, but he kept on with his herculean task after dressing their wounds and carrying them to friendly hands. In all, he made 10 separate trips through the brutal fire, each time bringing out a man from the death trap. Seven more casualties who were able to crawl by themselves he guided and encouraged in escaping from the hail of fire. After he had completed his heroic, self-imposed task and was near collapse from fatigue, he refused to leave his platoon until the attack had been resumed and the objective taken. Cpl. Kelly’s gallantry and intrepidity in the face of seemingly certain death saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and was an example of bravery under fire.