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Charles E. Kelly (soldier)
Charles E. Kelly (September 23, 1920 – January 11, 1985) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration for valor—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. Kelly was the third enlisted man to be decorated with the Medal of Honor for action on the European continent, after S/Sgt Maynard H Smith 306th Bomb Group (St Nazaire and Brest May 1, 1943) and Flight Officer (a temporary, non-commissioned warrant rank) John C "Red" Morgan 92nd Bomb Group, Hanover, July 28, 1943. BiographyPrior to his military service, the youthful Charles Kelly had made his living with a street gang in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and frequently got in trouble with the law. Kelly joined the Army in Pittsburgh[2] in May 1942, and by September 13, 1943, was serving as a corporal in Company L, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. After voluntarily participating in several patrols on that day, near Altavilla, Italy, he helped to defend an ammunition storehouse against attack by German forces. He held his position behind the storehouse all night, then took up a position inside the building. When withdrawal became necessary, he voluntarily stayed behind and held the German soldiers at bay until everyone had been evacuated from the storehouse, at which time he withdrew and was able to rejoin his unit. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor five months later, on February 18, 1944. Medal of Honor citationKelly's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
After receiving the Medal, Kelly toured the country with a group of other infantrymen as part of the Army Ground Forces' "Here's Your Infantry," demonstrating various battle techniques and selling war bonds. When the tour ended, Kelly was assigned to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Kelly received an honorable discharge from the Army in 1945, and the rank of technical sergeant.[3] Post war lifeKelly was less successful in his personal life. He opened a service station on the North Side of Pittsburgh in 1946, but was forced to sell it in 1947 after a downturn in business and a robbery. His wife Mae was diagnosed with uterine cancer that same year, and died in 1951. The cost of the radiation treatments for Mae eventually resulted in Kelly losing his home in foreclosure.[4] In 1950, Charles Kelly signed an age waver for his younger brother Danny that enabled him to enlist in the army at age 17. Shortly after his training, Danny Kelly was deployed to the Korean War. One week after arriving in Korea, he was reported as missing in action and was never found.[5]  In 1952, while traveling across the country campaigning for Dwight D. Eisenhower, Kelly was reintroduced to Betty Gaskin, a young woman he had met while stationed at Fort Knox. The two were married six weeks later, and moved to Louisville, Kentucky.[4] In a 1957 interview with Mike Wallace, Kelly defended Samuel David Hawkins, a Korean War captive who declined repatriation until that year and was called a turncoat.[6] Kelly spent most of his life holding down a series of short lived jobs. This, coupled with poor health, led to financial difficulties and problems with alcohol. Kelly left his second wife and children in 1961; they were divorced in 1962. In late 1984 Kelly was admitted to Veterans Hospital in Pittsburgh, suffering from kidney and liver failure.[4] He died January 11, 1985, at age 64. A devoted Pittsburgh North Sider, his last known residence was the Hanuaer-Rosenberg Residence in Pittsburgh's Deutschtown. He was buried at Highwood Cemetery in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Even though he had a problem with alcohol, his story and legacy have helped many many people achieve recovery. Two local Pittsburgh Alcoholics Anonymous meetings "Camp Kelly" and "Oakdale Beginners Group" have meetings 4 days a week for any one who has a desire to stop drinking.[who?][citation needed] Other honors In 1987, the Oakdale Army Support Element in Oakdale, Pennsylvania was redesignated the Charles E. Kelly Support Facility.[7] In 2024 the City of Pittsburgh dedicated Shawano Street (where Kelly grew up and returned home from the front) "Honorary Commando Kelly Way". See alsoNotes
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