Kelly, Robert Bolling, CAPT

Kelly retired in 1961 with the rank of captain. He worked for the Aerospace Division of Martin Marietta, and later as a counselor of vocational rehabilitation for the State of Maryland.

Featured in the book, They Were Expendable, the story of PT boat squadrons in the South Pacfic during WWII. A movie with the same name was produced during the war. John Wayne's character, Lt.(jg) Rusy Ryan, was based on then-Lt. Kelly and his bravery in the Philippines. Kelly sued MGM for how he was portrayed in the film.

Navy Cross
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Robert Bolling Kelly, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while Commanding Motor Torpedo Boat THIRTY-FOUR (PT-34), on the night of 8 - 9 April 1942, while operating in the waters of the Philippine Islands. While illuminated, Lieutenant Kelly made joint attack with PT-41 on a Japanese Kuma class light cruiser screened by four enemy destroyers, under extremely heavy shell fire from her main and secondary batteries and closed to within 300 yards where he struck her with two torpedoes in her engine rooms, which resulted in final sinking. Again in the morning of 9 April 1942, when attacked by four enemy dive bombers in a narrow channel of Cebu Harbor, Lieutenant Kelly though having a hole blown in his boat six-feet across, and with three of his guns out of action, skillfully maneuvered his boat and avoided direct hits on his boat. He fought back with his remaining guns until five of his crew of six were killed or wounded and then when all guns were out of action, he beached his boat to save the wounded. He directed the removal of the wounded and dead from his vessel under continual strafing from the enemy to a place of safety. The exceptional bravery, aggressive leadership, and outstanding devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Kelly were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Distinguished Service Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Battalion: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 (MTB-3)
General Orders: Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 3 (1942)
Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Robert Bolling Kelly (NSN: 0-74949), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Mindanao Sea, Philippine Islands, on 8 and 9 April 1942. When the two vessels of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3) encountered hostile naval vessels on the night of 8 April, Lieutenant Kelly, Commanding the U.S.S. PT-34, moved his ship to the attack of an enemy cruiser. Although his vessel was illuminated by searchlights, under heavy fire, and in the known presence of a second enemy vessel, Lieutenant Kelly proceeded to within 400 yards of the hostile cruiser and delivered a torpedo attack which struck the vessel twice amidships and left it in a sinking condition. Again, on the morning of 9 April, when his ship was attacked by four enemy dive bombers, Lieutenant Kelly withstood the attack for half-an-hour, avoiding much of the hostile fire with his anti-aircraft machine guns so that one of the hostile planes was brought down. When his vessel became unseaworthy and all guns were disabled by hostile fire, he maneuvered his ship so that the survivors might be landed and courageously directed the removal of the dead and wounded to a place of safety remaining with his ship to the last.