Thomas G. Kelley

Thomas Gunning Kelley
File:CaptThomasKelleyUSNRet.jpg   Captain Thomas G. Kelley
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1960-1990
Rank	Captain
Commands	River Assault Division 152
Battles / wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Kelley speaking at a Navy leadership training session in 2006

Captain Thomas Gunning Kelley, United States Navy (born May 13, 1939 in Boston, Massachusetts) was an American naval officer who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on the Ong Muong Canal, Kien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam, June 15, 1969. Despite the loss of one eye during this action, he requested to remain on active duty, and eventually retired with the rank of Captain in 1990.

Kelley is a graduate of Boston College High School, Class of 1956, and the College of the Holy Cross, Class of 1960. After retirement from the Navy, Kelley worked as a civilian in the Department of Defense for several years before returning to Boston. He became Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services in April, 1999, and was named Secretary of that department in August, 2003.. Governor Deval Patrick accepted his resignation December 29, 2010 and in turn handed the department over to long time Democratic political operative and public relations specialist, Coleman Nee.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER THOMAS G. KELLEY

UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

File:Thomas Kelley Receives MOH.jpg

Kelley receives Medal of Honor from President Nixon

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in the afternoon while serving as commander of River Assault Division 152 during combat operations against enemy aggressor forces. Lt. Comdr. (then Lt.) Kelley was in charge of a column of 8 river assault craft which were extracting 1 company of U.S. Army infantry troops on the east bank of the Ong Muong Canal in Kien Hoa province, when 1 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, Lt. Comdr. 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, Lt. Cmdr. 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 1 of his men until the enemy attack was silenced and the boats were able to move to an area of safety. Lt. Comdr. 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 U.S. Naval Service.

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

External links

• Interview at the Pritzker Military Library