John J. Kelly

John Joseph Kelly (June 24, 1898 – November 20, 1957) was a United States Marine who was awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor for his heroic actions on October 13, 1918, at the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge, France, during World War I. He was the last surviving of 19 two time Medal of Honor recipients when he died, although he received both awards for the same action.

Kelly was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 24, 1898. He enlisted as a private in the United States Marine Corps on May 15, 1917, in Port Royal, South Carolina. On September 5, 1917, he joined the 7th Company, 6th Regiment, at Quantico, Virginia, and on September 12, 1917, he was transferred to the 78th Company. On January 19, 1918, his regiment embarked from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the Henderson and arrived at St. Nazaire, France on February 5, 1918. Private Kelly participated in engagements at Château Thierry, St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont and the Meuse Argonne offensive. In the desperate fighting at Blanc Mont Ridge, he ran "100 yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machine gun nest", for which he was awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor. He also participated in the march to the Rhine River and in the occupation of the Koblenz Bridgehead, from November 17, to December 12, 1918. Pvt Kelly was honorably discharged, with character "Excellent" at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia on August 14, 1919. The circumstances of Pvt Kelly's Medal of Honor decoration were unique. It was pinned on his chest by General John J. Pershing, Commander in Chief, American Expeditionary Forces, while Pvt Kelly was with the Army of Occupation. With him in line, waiting for other decorations were U. S. Army Major Generals Joseph T. Dickman, Charles Henry Muir, William G. Haan and John L. Hines. His foreign decorations include the French Médaille militaire, the French Croix de Guerre with bronze palm and bronze star; the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra and the Montenegrin Medal for Military Bravery. At the time of his death on November 20, 1957, his address was listed as Chicago, Illinois and he is buried at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois.