Brig. Gen. EDWIN C. KELLEY, JR., then a first lieutenant, received the Navy Cross in recognition of his extraordinary heroism while serving as Commanding Officer, Company M, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division, in combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 13 March 1969, Lieutenant Kelley was directed to retake Landing Zone Sierra near the demilitarized zone which had been previously abandoned by friendly forces and was subsequently occupied by a North Vietnamese Army force entrenched in well-fortified bunker complexes. After personally leading a reconnaissance patrol to within 100 meters of the hostile emplacements without detection, Lieutenant Kelley formulated his plan of attack and initiated an aggressive assault on the enemy positions. During the ensuing protracted engagement, Lieutenant Kelley directed his company in the destruction of a series of four bunker complexes without the aid of air support and with only limited artillery fire. When monsoon weather precluded helicopter resupply, he instructed his Marines in the employment of captured North Vietnamese Army Weapons and grenades for a final assault against the remaining hostile fortification, thereby enabling his company to seize the objective and establish defensive positions. During the night, the Marines were subjected to a series of probing assaults, which increased in intensity until the early morning hours when the enemy penetrated a sector of the perimeter. Lieutenant Kelley fearlessly led a bold counterattack resulting in the defeat of the North Vietnamese Army force. His heroic actions and aggressive leadership inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in defeating the tenacious hostile unit. By his courage, superb tactical skill, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lieutenant Kelley contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Brig. Gen. Kelley joined the Legion of Valor in 1973 and is a life member.