Charles E. Kelly (soldier): Difference between revisions

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After receiving the Medal, Kelly toured the country with a group of other infantrymen as part of the Army Ground Forces' "Here's Your Infantry," demonstrating various battle techniques and selling [[war bonds]]. When the tour ended, Kelly was assigned to the Infantry School at [[Fort Benning]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].
 
[[File:Charles "Commando Kelly" parade in Pittsburg 1943.jpg|thumb|Charles "Commando Kelly" parade in PittsburgPittsburgh 1943]]
 
Kelly received an honorable discharge from the Army in 1945, and the rank of [[technical sergeant]].<ref>{{Cite news
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In 1950, Charles Kelly signed an age waver for his younger brother Danny that enabled him to enlist in the army at age 17. Shortly after his training, Danny Kelly was deployed to the [[Korean War]]. One week after arriving in Korea, he was reported as missing in action and was never found.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19990531command2.asp | title=North Side's battlefield hero found life's wounds too deep }}</ref>
 
[[File:Graveside photo of Charles "Commando" Kelly.jpg|thumb|Graveside photo of Charles "Commando" Kelly]]
In 1952, while travelling across the country campaigning for [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], Kelly was reintroduced to Betty Gaskin, a young woman he had met while stationed at [[Fort Knox]]. The two were married six weeks later, and moved to [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], Kentucky.<ref name="Levinibid" /> In a 1957 interview with [[Mike Wallace]], Kelly defended [[Samuel David Hawkins]], a [[Korean War]] captive [[List of American and British defectors in the Korean War|who declined repatriation]] until that year and was called a turncoat.<ref name="Wallace2">{{cite video
 
In 1952, while travellingtraveling across the country campaigning for [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], Kelly was reintroduced to Betty Gaskin, a young woman he had met while stationed at [[Fort Knox]]. The two were married six weeks later, and moved to [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], Kentucky.<ref name="Levinibid" /> In a 1957 interview with [[Mike Wallace]], Kelly defended [[Samuel David Hawkins]], a [[Korean War]] captive [[List of American and British defectors in the Korean War|who declined repatriation]] until that year and was called a turncoat.<ref name="Wallace2">{{cite video
| people = Mike Wallace
| title = The Mike Wallace Interview - Commando Kelly Episode
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}}</ref>
 
Kelly spent most of his life holding down a series of short lived jobs. This, coupled with poor health, led to financial difficulties and problems with [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]]. Kelly left his second wife and children in 1961; they were divorced in 1962. In late 1984 Kelly was admitted to Veterans Hospital in Pittsburgh, suffering from kidney and liver failure.<ref name="Levinibid" /> He died January 11, 1985, at age 64. A devoted Pittsburgh North Sider, his last known residence was the [[Hanauer-Rosenberg Residence|Hanuaer-Rosenberg Residence]] in Pittsburgh's Deutschtown. He was buried at Highwood Cemetery in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
 
[[File:Graveside photo of Charles "Commando" Kelly.jpg|thumb|Graveside photo of Charles "Commando" Kelly]]
 
[[File:Reverse graveside photo of Charles "Commando" Kelly.jpg|thumb|Reverse graveside photo of Charles "Commando" Kelly]]
 
Even though he had a problem with alcohol, his story and legacy have helped many many people achieve recovery. Two local Pittsburgh Alcoholics Anonymous meetings "Camp Kelly" and " Oakdale Beginners Group " have meetings 4 days a week for any one who has a desire to stop drinking.{{who|date=October 2017}}{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
 
==Other honors==
[[File:Honorary Commando Kelly Way sign.jpg|thumb|Honorary Commando Kelly Way sign in Pittsburgh]]
In 1987, the Oakdale Army Support Element in Oakdale, Pennsylvania was redesignated the Charles E. Kelly Support Facility.<ref>{{cite web |title = Charles E. Kelly Support Facility (CEKSF) |publisher = Global Security.org |url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/kelly-sf.htm |access-date = 2008-11-12}}</ref> In 2024 the City of Pittsburgh dedicated Shawano Street (where Kelly grew up and returned home from the front) "Honorary Commando Kelly Way".
 
==See also==