[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E261-E262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF CARL KELLY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 2003

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, a man from Butts County, Georgia, Carl 
Kelly of Pepperton Cottonmill Village, has recently been reintroduced 
to his community and to new generations as a true hero.
  Just prior to World War Two, First Sergeant Kelly was a member of the 
Jackson Rifles of the Jackson National Guard. 1st Sgt. Kelly was sent 
to Europe with very little training and very little equipment. While he 
was there he was one of the thousands of Americans who went ashore on 
Utah Beach during the Normandy Invasion. He was later wounded in St. 
Lo, France and awarded his first Purple Heart and the first of his 
three Bronze Stars for gallantry.
  Following the war, Kelly remained in the military and was deployed 
very shortly thereafter to Korea, where he was given a field promotion 
to 2nd Lieutenant. While in Korea, Lt. Kelly was wounded a second time. 
Once he returned to action, he repeatedly risked his own life to cover 
the retreat of a pinned down artillery unit, ultimately receiving a 
mortal wound.
  Lt. Carl Kelly is, from all available records, the most highly 
decorated veteran of Butts County. While bravely serving his nation he 
was awarded three Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, the Silver Star, 
and dozens of other honors.
  What has brought Lt. Kelly's actions to the attention of the public 
is a book chronicling the life of an infantryman in World War Two and 
Korea. In his recently published book, Warrior By Choice in World War 
Two, By Chance in Korea, author Jack M. Anderson tells Kelly's story in 
an excerpt describing the first man he ever saw die.
  As we prepare to send our young men and women into combat, I think 
that it is fitting that we remember the sacrifice of men like Carl 
Kelly, and finally give him the honor that has been so long overdue.
  Recently my hometown newspaper, the Jackson Argue-Progress, published 
an article about Kelly's life of commitment, and I would like that 
article and these comments to be submitted together for the Record. In 
this way, I wish to honor the memory of a hometown hero, a father, a 
husband, and an example of valor to all Americans, on behalf of a 
grateful nation.

              [From Jackson Argus-Progress, Jan. 29, 2003]

                  Remembering Butts County's Lt. Kelly

                          (By Herman Cawthon)

       In the recently published Warrior By Choice in World War 
     II, By Chance Korea, author Jack M. Anderson tells of his 24-
     plus years of service as a United States Infantryman.
       In his book Anderson includes an excerpt of a Butts County 
     warrior, Carl Kelly. Anderson describes Kelley as follows:
       ``From Butts, Georgia 1st Sgt. Carl Kelly, Hq Co, 1st Bn, 
     38th Inf was wounded the same time I was. He would return to 
     duty and be killed the day before I was captured. He was the 
     first man I would watch die. We started to move him to the Bn 
     Aid Station, but he said not to, but wanted us to get a 
     hometown friend of his who was the Bn S4 Sergeant.
       ``Carl told Stewart (I hope that name is right) that things 
     were going slowly dim and he wanted Stewart to be sure to 
     tell his wife and kids that he loved them and would meet them 
     in heaven. He talked for a few minutes more, then just closed 
     his eyes and was dead. I had seen others killed and would see 
     more, but that was the first time I watched a man die.''
       Anderson and Kelly both had very similar military careers 
     up to the death of Kelly. Both were in the National Guard 
     when World War II started and both were sent into action with 
     little training and even less to work with; not only guns and 
     ammunition, but food and lodging. Kelly went to the European 
     Theater and Anderson to the Pacific. Both were wounded and 
     decorated several times. Anderson details how the US troops 
     improved and how they wound up with so much more than the 
     enemy.
       After World War II, both joined the regular Army, so when 
     the Korean Conflict started, they were sent into battle 
     immediately. Again Anderson tells how the U.S. was very short 
     on supplies and had very few men with any training and 
     experience. At the beginning, he describes the hardships 
     experienced by the troops as they fought the larger, better 
     trained enemy troops. Both men were prisoners and escaped. 
     Again, the U.S. wound up with superior troops and equipment.
       After reading the book, Cary Kelly, son of Lt. Carl Kelly, 
     wrote the following letter:
       ``To Whom It May Concern: The following is a brief military 
     history of Lt. Carl Kelly from Jackson, Georgia.
       ``Carl Kelly began his military career by joining the 
     Jackson National Guard, then called the Jackson Rifles, while 
     still in his teens. When WWII started, the Jackson National 
     Guard was called upon to train for the war in Europe. Carl 
     Kelly was made 1st Sergeant before leaving for Ireland to 
     wait for the invasion of Normandy.

[[Page E262]]

       ``After landing on Utah Beach the 8th Army division fought 
     their way inland to France. There in St.-LoFrance, then 1st 
     Sergeant Kelly was wounded in action and was awarded his 
     first of two bronze stars for gallantry. He also received his 
     first Purple heart for being wounded in action. As soon as he 
     was able he rejoined his outfit and continued fighting into 
     Germany until the Germans surrendered.
       ``By this time Sgt. Kelly had made the decision to enlist 
     in the military for a career and was a full time military 
     personnel.
       ``When the Korean Conflict began Sgt. Kelly was immediately 
     sent to Korea. (How President Harry Truman could call it a 
     conflict when over 50,000 American soldiers were killed is 
     beyond me). It was a terrible war, often fought in hand-to-
     hand combat in temperatures of 20 degrees below zero, 
     fighting against not only North Koreans but Chinese as well.
       ``After distinguishing himself on the battlefield as being 
     a leader of men, Sgt. Kelly was awarded a battlefield 
     commission to 2nd Lieutenant. Soon after he was again wounded 
     in action.
       ``After recuperating from wounds, Lt. Kelly returned to 
     active duty and soon after was involved in a battle involving 
     an artillery unit that had been ambushed and was trying to 
     retreat. According to records, intense enemy fire was 
     preventing the withdrawal of the field artillery battalion.
       ``Lt Kelly reconnoitered the enemy positions and organized 
     the artillerymen into fighting groups. With complete 
     disregard for his personal safety, Lt. Kelly repeated 
     aggressive actions, wiping out enemy forces and weapons. 
     Besides instilling confidence in the artillerymen, his 
     conspicuous actions served to center the fire of the enemy on 
     himself. Although enemy fire became more intense and deadly, 
     Lt. Kelly continued to expose himself in leading the 
     assaults. Finally he was struck by enemy fire and fell 
     mortally wounded.
       ``Before he died he told a friend to tell his wife and 
     children that he loved them very much and would see them in 
     heaven someday. He received the Silver Star Award 
     posthumously.
       ``Lt Kelly was in service for eleven years. He received 
     three Purple Heart Medals, three Bronze Star Medals and the 
     Silver Star medal, as well as the many service medals awarded 
     by the United States Army, during the period of time served.
       ``I feel my father is a forgotten Hero from Butts County. 
     From all the records I can find, he was the most decorated 
     soldier from Butts County. He was also the only military man 
     and officer to serve in both World War II and the Korean 
     Conflict who was killed in action. He received a battlefield 
     commission from 1st Sgt. to 2nd Lieutenant. Our family also 
     received a letter of condolence from General Douglas 
     MacArthur (which we still have).
       ``To me this is not a bad resume for a young man from 
     Pepperton Cottonmill Village who started out in the Jackson 
     National Guard and died a hero at the ripe old age of 32.
       ``I believe that every young man and woman form Butts 
     County who gave their life in defense of their country are 
     heroes and should be recognized. In a time when roads, 
     highways and buildings, are named after people at the drop of 
     a hat, none of these young heroes even have a small plaque on 
     a park bench in Butts County. Even on Veterans Day and/or 
     Memorial Day their names are only brought up by family 
     members. I feel that other counties in Georgia are way ahead 
     of Butts County in this matter.
       ``Very Sincerely, Cary V. Kelly''
       Carl Kelly is not the only hero in the family. His wife, 
     Edna is a hero to many of her friends.
       At the time Carl was killed she had three young sons, Cary, 
     Tim and Pat. All three served in the military. Tim was killed 
     in a motorcycle accident in California after being discharged 
     and on the way home. Pat was a disabled Vietnam Combat 
     Veteran and was killed a couple of years ago in a truck 
     accident.
       A few years after Carl's death, Edna married Ed Daniel, 
     another Veteran and they had two sons, Chip and Joe. Both 
     sons are now veterans, too. Ed passed away a few years ago 
     after an extended illness.
       When asked how she had handled so much tragedy and could 
     still have a smile and her special laugh, she pointed upward, 
     and said she had a lot of help from above.

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