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Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Pfc. Jack William Kelso, USMC
Marine Private Jack William Kelso, of Fresno, California, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on the night of 2 October 1952, when he was killed while covering the escape of fellow Marines from a besieged bunker. He was the 31st Marine to receive the Nations highest decoration for heroism in Korea.
Private Kelso, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Kelso of Fresno, was a rifleman with the 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, on the night of the action. He was serving at a vital outpost near Sokchon when a numerically superior enemy attack, under cover of small arms, grenade and mortar fire, made casualties of both his platoon commander and platoon sergeant.
After exposing himself to a hail of enemy fire to try and reorganize the unit, he was driven to cover with four other Marines in a nearby bunker, where an enemy grenade landed among them. He picked it up, ran into the open and threw it back at the enemy, receiving painful wounds as the missile exploded on leaving his hand.
He was again forced into the shelter by even more intense enemy fire, but refused to remain there. Moving out into the fire-swept area, he blasted away at the enemy until he was mortally wounded, thereby covering the escape of the other Marines from the bunker.
Private Kelso had been with Company I, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, in Korea since April 1952. He earned the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action from 13 to 15 August 1952, when he made some 20 trips through enemy mortar and artillery fire to carry ammunition from his company to another unit defending an important hill. Although the heat and enemy fire forced most of the men to be relieved after three trips, he continued to carry up ammunition and return with casualties until he collapsed and had to be evacuated. He was also awarded the Purple Heart Medal for the wounds he received in his final action.
Private Kelso was born on 23 January 1934, at Madera, California, and attended grade and high school at Carutherst, California. He also worked on his fathers farm until he enlisted in the Marine Corps on 15 May 1951. He completed boot training at San Diego, California, in July 1951, and that September was ordered from San Diego to Camp Pendleton, California. In January 1952, he left for Hawaii, where he served until April 1952, when he embarked for Korea. His body has been returned to the United States.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Silver Star and Purple Heart, Private Kelso was entitled to the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company I, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Korea, 2 October 1952. Entered service at: Caruthers, Calif. Born: 23 January 1934, Madera, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman of Company I, in action against enemy aggressor forces. When both the platoon commander and the platoon sergeant became casualties during the defense of a vital outpost against a numerically superior enemy force attacking at night under cover of intense small-arms, grenade, and mortar fire, Pfc. Kelso bravely exposed himself to the hail of enemy fire in a determined effort to reorganize the unit and to repel the onrushing attackers. Forced to seek cover, along with 4 other marines, in a nearby bunker which immediately came under attack, he unhesitatingly picked up an enemy grenade which landed in the shelter, rushed out into the open and hurled it back at the enemy. Although painfully wounded when the grenade exploded as it left his hand, and again forced to seek the protection of the bunker when the hostile fire became more intensified Pfc. Kelso refused to remain in his position of comparative safety and moved out into the fire-swept area to return the enemy fire, thereby permitting the pinned-down marines in the bunker to escape. Mortally wounded while providing covering fire for his comrades, Pfc. Kelso, by his valiant fighting spirit, aggressive determination, and self-sacrificing efforts in behalf of others, served to inspire all who observed him. His heroic actions sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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