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Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Gunnery Sergeant Allan Jay Kellogg Jr., USMC
Sergeant Major Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr., who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam, during March 1970, was born 1 October 1943, in Bethel, Connecticut, and graduated from elementary school there in 1958. He attended high school for two years, prior to enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps on 14 November 1960, in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
He received recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina and individual combat training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Following graduation, he was assigned duty as a rifleman, assistant automatic rifleman, and fire team leader, consecutively, with Company K, 3d Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune. He was promoted to private first class in June 1961, to lance corporal in April 1962, and to corporal in October 1962.
From December 1962 until November 1964, Corporal Kellogg served as squad leader with Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Brigade. Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned duty as Sergeant of the Guard, Marine Air Base Squadron 31, Marine Aircraft Group 31 at Beaufort, South Carolina.
He was promoted to sergeant on 1 May 1965 and in March 1966 was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as Weapons Platoon Sergeant and later, Company Supply Non-commissioned Officer of Company F, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. He was promoted to staff sergeant 1 July 1967.
In December 1967 Staff Sergeant Kellogg was assigned to the 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, serving as a squad leader with M-16 Special Task Group Command, 3d Battalion, 8th Marines and subsequently as a platoon sergeant, and later, platoon commander of Company I, 3d Battalion, 6th Marines.
Returning for his second tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam in December 1969, Staff Sergeant Kellogg served briefly as a platoon sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines. During March 1970 he was reassigned duty as a platoon sergeant of Company G, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Wounded in action in Quang Nam Province on 8 May 1970, he was evacuated to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan.
He was released from the hospital in October 1970 and returned to duty that December, when he assumed his assignment as Instructor, Field Medical Service School, at Camp Pendleton, California. He was promoted to gunnery sergeant on 1 July 1972. He was later promoted to sergeant major, and retired from the Marie Corps in October 1990.
A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, the Purple Heart Medal with two gold stars, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze star, the Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver star, the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Color) with palm and gold frame, the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Action Color (First Class) with palm and gold frame, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, the Rifle Expert Badge, and the Pistol Expert Badge.
At the time of the action which earned him the Medal of Honor, Sergeant Major Kellogg was married to the former Carol Diane Haviland of Queens City, New York, and had one daughter, two step-daughters, a brother, and three sisters.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (then S/Sgt.), Company G, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. place and date: Quang Nam province, Republic of Vietnam, 11 March 1970. Entered service at: Bridgeport, Conn. Born: 1 October 1943, Bethel, Conn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company G, in connection with combat operations against the enemy on the night of 11 March 1970. Under the leadership of G/Sgt. Kellogg, a small unit from Company G was evacuating a fallen comrade when the unit came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior enemy force occupying well-concealed emplacements in the surrounding jungle. During the ensuing fierce engagement, an enemy soldier managed to maneuver through the dense foliage to a position near the marines, and hurled a hand grenade into their midst which glanced off the chest of G/Sgt. Kellogg. Quick to act, he forced the grenade into the mud in which he was standing, threw himself over the lethal weapon and absorbed the full effects of its detonation with his body thereby preventing serious injury or possible death to several of his fellow marines. Although suffering multiple injuries to his chest and his right shoulder and arm, G/Sgt. Kellogg resolutely continued to direct the efforts of his men until all were able to maneuver to the relative safety of the company perimeter. By his heroic and decisive action in risking his life to save the lives of his comrades, G/Sgt. Kellogg reflected the highest credit upon himself and upheld the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.
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