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Morris Kelly’s military awards
presented to his daughter
By Michael Barrett
Freelance Writer
About two years ago, Jourdain Perpich Extended Care Center administrator, Jim Williamson,
on behalf of Morris W. Kelly, who was a resident there before he passed away on December 30,
2000, contacted the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records in Missouri,
to verify entitlement to some military service medals Kelly had earned while serving in World War
II.
In March 2003, Williamson received a letter from the NPRC verifying entitlement to the
following awards for Morris Kelly. They were: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, American
Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars;
World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award; and Honorable Service
Lapel Button WWII.
According to Williamson, Kelly may also be entitled to other awards, as he had made three
parachute jumps behind enemy lines while serving, of which only three such jumps were made
during World War II. Kelly was a paratrooper in the Army.
On Monday, October 1, 2002, in a small ceremony at the JPECC in Red Lake, all these
awards, displayed on a pillow, were presented to Morris W. Kelly’s daughter, Patsy Mitchell. She
was there with her husband, Dennis, and the two live in Virginia, Minnesota, but usually spend
their winters in Flordia.
Williamson explained the awards to her and what they meant.
“This is the Combat Infantry Badge,” he told her. “In order to get that, you have to be an
infantryman and have actually served in combat...”
The Bronze Star, according to the letter Williamson received, said it was based on the award
of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Williamson said he received the Purple Heart for being wounded, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, which meant he was in four different campaigns–and may have very
well been in Africa.
The medals were listed beginning with the highest honor, which was the Bronze Star.
Williamson said it took about two years for the military records division to award them, and
Mitchell thanked him for doing that for her.
“When he [Morris] first got here, he didn’t like eing in here very much,” Williamson said.
“No, he didn’t,” Mitchell said.
“When he’d get mad, I’d hear him out there and I’d go out and talk to him. I’d say, Hey
Morris, what kind of rifle did you carry in the Army? He’d just–it could snap him. I didn’t carry
a rife–mortar man. Those mortar tubes, someone had to carry the mortar tubes and the plate.
When things got bad, they’d set those things up and shoot mortars out into the enemy area.”
Williamson added that he also sent another letter back to the Military Records Division for
another parachute medal for those jumps behind enemy lines.
Mitchell said the medals were going to be given to her grandson, Neil Strong, who was part
Indian as well and knew his grandpa. Neil was six years old and had his grandfather’s flag that
was placed inside a glass case. He was her oldest grandson.
“I think he’ll enjoy these when he’s older,” she said.
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