HONORED ON PANEL 1E, LINE 57 OF THE WALL
CHARLES L KELLY
WALL NAME
CHARLES L KELLY
PANEL / LINE
1E/57
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
HOME OF RECORD
COUNTY OF RECORD
STATE
BRANCH OF SERVICE
RANK
REMEMBRANCES
LEFT FOR CHARLES L KELLY
POSTED ON 3.20.2025
POSTED BY: ANON
Greater Love Hath No Man...
than that man lay down his life for a friend."
Your sacrifice is not forgotten.
Your sacrifice is not forgotten.
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POSTED ON 8.15.2024
POSTED BY: [email protected]
Final Mission of MAJ Charles L. Kelly
The 57th Medical Detachment was the first helicopter ambulance unit to use the UH-1 helicopter for aeromedical evacuation missions. The 57th deployed to Vietnam in 1962 and was the first to adopt the call sign “Dustoff” which became synonymous with Army aeromedical evacuation units. In 1964, MAJ Charles L. Kelly was the commanding officer of the 57th Medical Detachment. On the morning of July 1st, Kelly received a mission request from an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) unit in contact with the enemy 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) south of Vinh Long Air Field in Vinh Long Province, RVN. A U.S. Special Forces sergeant, the ARVN advisor, had been hit in the leg by shrapnel from a mortar round. Several Vietnamese infantrymen were also wounded. The Viet Cong (VC) hugged the besieged unit and fighting continued as Kelly's UH-1B (#63-08591) came to a hover over the battle area. As he floated his ship back and forth trying to spot the casualties, the hovering helicopter drew VC fire as the ARVN soldiers and their American advisors stayed low. One advisor radioed Kelly to get out of the area to which he answered, "When I have your wounded." Multiple rounds hit his UH-1 before one passed through an open side door and pierced his heart. Kelly was heard to murmur "my God" before dying. The ship pitched up, nosed to the right, inverted, and impacted the ground. His crew, shaken but not seriously injured, crawled from the wreckage, dragging Kelly's body behind a mound of dirt. Medivac aircraft later evacuated them and the other casualties. Kelly was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and the South Vietnam government conferred the Military Order Medal of Vietnam, National Order, Fifth Class, and the Cross of Gallantry with Palm. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, vhpa.org, “Dateline Vietnam,” Pacific Stars & Stripes, January 18, 1965, and “Dust Off: Army Aeromedical Evacuation in Vietnam” by Dorland and Nanney]
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POSTED ON 2.22.2023
POSTED BY: John Fabris
honoring you...
Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Distinguished Service Cross citation attests to your courage and devotion to your fellow soldiers. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….
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POSTED ON 7.5.2020
POSTED BY: CLAY MARSTON
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THIS MOST HEROIC ARMY AVIATOR WHOSE NAME SHALL LIVE FOREVER MORE
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THIS
MOST HEROIC ARMY AVIATOR
WHOSE NAME SHALL LIVE FOREVER MORE
MAJOR
CHARLES LIVINGSTON KELLY
was a
posthumous recipient
of the following
military decorations
and service medals
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
SILVER STAR
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
AIR MEDAL
BRONZE STAR MEDAL
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
PURPLE HEART with Oak Leaf Cluster
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL
AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL
ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL
VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL
NATIONAL ORDER OF VIETNAM, FIFTH CLASS
VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS with PALM
and in addition was
entitled to wear the
COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE
ARMY AVIATOR WINGS
ARMY COMBAT MEDIC BADGE
ARMY PARACHUTE WINGS
THE PROUD YOUNG VALOR THAT ROSE ABOVE THE MORTAL,
AND THEN AT LAST WAS MORTAL AFTER ALL
YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE
R E M E M B R A N C E
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POSTED ON 11.16.2019
POSTED BY: Lucy Micik
Thank You
Dear Major Charles Kelly, Thank you for your service as an Aviation Unit Commander (Pilot). Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. We are approaching Thanksgiving. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.
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