Rank and organization: Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, River Assault Division
152
Place and date: Ong Muong Canal, Kien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam, 15 June 1969
Entered service at: Boston, Massachusetts
Born: 13 May 1939, Boston, Massachusetts
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
MEDAL OF HONOR to
THOMAS G. KELLEY
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy
for service set forth in the
following
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of
duty in the afternoon on June 1969 while serving as commander of River Assault
Division 152 during
combat operations against enemy aggressor forces. Lieutenant Commander (then
Lieutenant) Thomas
Kelley was in charge of a column of eight river assault craft which were
extracting one company of U.S.
Army infantry troops on the east bank of the Ong Muong Canal in Kien Hoa
Province, Republic of
Vietnam, when one of the armored troop carriers reported a mechanical failure of
a loading ramp. At
approximately the same time, Viet Cong forces opened fire
from the opposite bank of the canal. After
issuing orders for the crippled troop carrier to raise its ramp manually, and
for the remaining boats to
form a protective cordon around the disabled craft, Lieutenant Commander
Kelley realizing the extreme
danger to his column and its inability to clear the ambush site until the
crippled unit was repaired, boldly
maneuvered the monitor in which he was
embarked to the exposed side of the protective cordon in direct
line with the enemy's fire, and ordered the monitor to commence firing.
Suddenly, an enemy rocket
scored a direct hit on the coxswain's flat, the shell penetrating the thick
armor plate, and the explosion
spraying shrapnel in all directions. Sustaining serious head wounds from the
blast, which hurled him to
the deck of the monitor, Lieutenant Commander Kelley disregarded his
severe injuries and attempted to
continue directing the other boats. Although
unable to move from the deck or to speak clearly into the
radio, he succeeded in relaying his commands through one of his men until the
enemy attack was
silenced and the boats were able to move to an area of safety. Lieutenant
Commander Kelley's brilliant
leadership, bold initiative, and resolute
determination served to inspire his men and provide the impetus
needed to carry out the mission after he was medically evacuated by helicopter.
His extraordinary
courage under fire, and his selfless devotion to duty sustain and enhance the
finest traditions of the
United States Naval Service.
Thomas G. Kelley receiving the Medal of Honor from President Richard M. Nixon
Captain Thomas G. Kelley, USN ( Ret.)
Tom Kelley - 2011
The Medal of Honor was established by Joint Resolution of Congress, 12 July 1862 (amended by
acts 9 July 1918 and 25 July 1963). The Medal of Honor is awarded by the President in the name
of Congress to a person who distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an
action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving
conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an
armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent
party. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so
conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have involved
risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be exacted and each
recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard of
extraordinary merit.
Tom Kelley 2011
The medal was originally awarded to petty officers, seamen, landsmen and marines for gallantry in action
and other seamanlike qualities (such as the saving of lives). Officers were not eligible until March 3,
1915, but some awards were made retroactive to earlier campaigns. An Act of Congress on August 7,
1942 established the Medal of Honor as a combat award only. It is the highest award for gallantry that
the Army or Navy bestows.
Joint Retirement and Birthday Celebration
for Tom Kelley
Former Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs
State of Massachusetts
MOH Recipient Jack Jacobs (9th I.D.), Ed Frank, MOH Recipient Tom Kelley
and Richard "Doc" Nelson.
[ Click on any image to view a larger Photo ]
Tom Kelley credits Richard "Doc" Nelson
with saving his life on June 15, 1969. He invited
Richard to be his honored guest during the celebration.
Tom was very pleased to hear that over $300,000.00 was
received for the
Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund as a
result of the event. The funding assists
the spouses and children of Massachusetts military personnel who gave the "Ultimate
Sacrifice"
In Iraq and Afghanistan.