CPL Charles 'Commando' Kelly (L/143IN, 36th ID) Altavilla, Italy WWII, 13-14SEPT1943

13-14SEPT1943: Volunteering to scout ahead to determine location of enemy and friendly units, CPT Charles Kelly moved ahead under enemy artillery and sniper fire. Making it the full mile to the hill in question, Kelly then returned under the same barrage of fire to report his findings. He then volunteered to lead a group of three Soldiers to attack a machine gun position that was holding up US forces.

Moving ahead with his small team, Kelly assaulted one position after another, methodically destroying countless German positions. When the attack died down, his fellow Soldiers estimated Kelly had killed 40 enemy fighters himself. Now running low on ammunition, Kelly returned to an ammo supply point but found that location under intense enemy attack.

As the attack died down for the night, Kelly assumed a guard position in the second story of the building and awaited the morning. Just as the sun began to rise, the Germans attacked with a focus on the supply point Kelly was defending. Utilizing everything at his disposal, Kelly fired two Browning Automatic Rifles until the barrels turned red hot and jammed. He then alternated between a Thompson sub-machine gun, an M1 Garand and even a M1903 Springfield bolt action rifle.

As enemy element neared his position, he began throwing phosphorus and incendiary grenades, forcing the enemy to abandon nearby houses as they burned. At one point, Kelly even armed a series of 60mm mortars and began throwing them like grenades where they would detonate on impact among the charging Germans. Before the attack was over, Kelly would fire multiple rounds from a bazooka and even utilize a 37mm towed anti-tank gun to knock out a German sniper position.

Estimates are that he may have killed upwards of 200 enemy fighters by himself that morning. For his action in holding the position against all odds, CPL Charles Kelly would earn the nickname of Commando Kelly and be awarded the Medal of Honor.