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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |
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BORN:
September 09, 1923 at Brooklyn, NY
Entered Service in the US
Army from Brooklyn, NY
Earned the Medal of Honor during World War II For heroism on
April 05, 1945 at Alemert, Germany
DIED: October
02, 1988 at the age of 65
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Corporal
Kelly's 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, Corporal 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 300 yards to 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 ten 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.
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