Charles L. Kelly
Encyclopedia
Charles L. Kelly was a United States Army
helicopter
pilot
during The Vietnam War. Major
Kelly was the Commanding Officer
of the 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance
) from 11 January 1964 until he was killed in action on 1 July of the same year while trying to evacuate a wounded American advisor along with several ARVN
wounded. He is considered the founder of Dustoff
.
Kelly was a legend in his own time, being called "Crazy Kelly," and "Mad Man," for his willingness to fly into danger to rescue the wounded. Kelly often flew missions at night, claiming that all the times he had been hit had been during daylight.
on 1 July 1964 when, after being warned out of a "Hot" LZ
, he replied with his famous last words, "When I have your wounded." A bullet entered through an open cargo door and pierced his heart. Kelly whipered "My God." His helicopter then landed sideways, its rotors beating into the ground. Major Clarles L. Kelly became the 49'th American to die in Vietnam. After he was shot down, his men landed at the site of his crash and attempted to revive him to no avail. Ernie Sylvester, who was trained by Kelly, right out of flight school, flew his body to an aid station in hopes of a miracle. A lone bullet had pierced his heart and lodged in the frame of the aircraft. The following day, a Commander tossed the bullet on his desk in front of CPT. Patrick Henry Brady
and asked if they were going to stop flying so aggressively. Brady picked up the bullet and replied, "we are going to keep flying exactly the way Kelly taught us to fly, without hesitation, anytime, anywhere." This determination to continue the mission as envisioned by Kelly was upheld throughout the Vietnam War and continues to this day. Brady served two tours in Vietnam as a medical evacuation pilot and on his second tour in 1968 was awarded the Medal of Honor. http://psysim.www7.50megs.com/dustkellyb1.htm
. He was also awarded South Vietnam's Cross of Gallantry with Palm
, and the National Order of Vietnam, Fifth Class
, South Vietnam's highest award.
honored Kelly's story at their landing zone near Columbus, Georgia. After hearing the story of his father's courage from Vietnam Dustoff colleague Ernest Sylvester, Charles Kelly, Jr. flew in the left seat of the documentary's restored UH-1 Iroquois
, emulating his father's wartime experience.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
during The Vietnam War. Major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
Kelly was the Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
) from 11 January 1964 until he was killed in action on 1 July of the same year while trying to evacuate a wounded American advisor along with several ARVN
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
wounded. He is considered the founder of Dustoff
MEDEVAC
Medical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
.
Kelly was a legend in his own time, being called "Crazy Kelly," and "Mad Man," for his willingness to fly into danger to rescue the wounded. Kelly often flew missions at night, claiming that all the times he had been hit had been during daylight.
1 July 1964
Kelly was KIAKilled in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
on 1 July 1964 when, after being warned out of a "Hot" LZ
Landing Zone
A Landing Zone or "LZ" is a military term for any area where an aircraft can land.In the United States military, a landing zone is the actual point where aircraft land...
, he replied with his famous last words, "When I have your wounded." A bullet entered through an open cargo door and pierced his heart. Kelly whipered "My God." His helicopter then landed sideways, its rotors beating into the ground. Major Clarles L. Kelly became the 49'th American to die in Vietnam. After he was shot down, his men landed at the site of his crash and attempted to revive him to no avail. Ernie Sylvester, who was trained by Kelly, right out of flight school, flew his body to an aid station in hopes of a miracle. A lone bullet had pierced his heart and lodged in the frame of the aircraft. The following day, a Commander tossed the bullet on his desk in front of CPT. Patrick Henry Brady
Patrick Henry Brady
Major General Patrick Henry Brady, USA is a retired American Army officer. While serving as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, he received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.-Biography:...
and asked if they were going to stop flying so aggressively. Brady picked up the bullet and replied, "we are going to keep flying exactly the way Kelly taught us to fly, without hesitation, anytime, anywhere." This determination to continue the mission as envisioned by Kelly was upheld throughout the Vietnam War and continues to this day. Brady served two tours in Vietnam as a medical evacuation pilot and on his second tour in 1968 was awarded the Medal of Honor. http://psysim.www7.50megs.com/dustkellyb1.htm
Awards and decorations
Kelly was posthumously awarded the US Army's Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
. He was also awarded South Vietnam's Cross of Gallantry with Palm
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
The Vietnam Gallantry Cross was a military decoration of South Vietnam which wasestablished in August 1950. Also known as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Gallantry Cross was awarded to any military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting an...
, and the National Order of Vietnam, Fifth Class
National Order of Vietnam
The National Order of Vietnam was a combined military-civilian decoration of South Vietnam and was considered the highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual by the Republic of Vietnam government....
, South Vietnam's highest award.
Documentary Film Tribute
In 2002, the documentary film crew of In the Shadow of the BladeIn The Shadow of The Blade
In the Shadow of the Blade is a 2004 American documentary film produced and directed by Patrick and Cheryl Fries. It won awards in the film industry and with the Vietnam veteran community, including the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival "Best of Show" and "Gold Documentary" and the...
honored Kelly's story at their landing zone near Columbus, Georgia. After hearing the story of his father's courage from Vietnam Dustoff colleague Ernest Sylvester, Charles Kelly, Jr. flew in the left seat of the documentary's restored UH-1 Iroquois
UH-1 Iroquois
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
, emulating his father's wartime experience.
External links
- Page on Kelly on The Virtual WallThe Virtual WallThe Virtual Wall is an on-line Vietnam War memorial. The website opened on March 23, 1997 and is run by the not-for-profit organization, www.VirtualWall.org Ltd. The Virtual Wall has a separate memorial page for each casualty remembered...