Simon A. Kelly

Private First Class Simon A Kelly was killed in action on August 6, 1944 in Mortain, France during World War II.  He was 33 years old.

Simon A. Kelly was born on June 25, 1911 in Henderson, North Carolina, the son of Edward A. Kelly and Missouri Minggia Kelly. 

PFC Kelly was inducted into the U.S. Army on September 18, 1940 and was deployed to the European Theater of War on February 12, 1944 serving with the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division.  After further training in Scotland and England, the Regiment landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy and moved into positions on the front line on June 13, 1944 in the area near Carentan. 

During July, the 120th drove into enemy held territory a distance of 30 miles fighting under typical Normandy hedgerow-to-hedgerow conditions, each yard being stubbornly contested by the Germans.  The Regiment was constantly vulnerable to counterattacks from one or both flanks resulting largely from the fact that the Regiment moved forward faster than units to their right and left.  The objective of the U.S. forces was the town of St. Lo, a major crossroads which, if taken, would prevent German forces in Normandy from reinforcing the German front lines.  St. Lo was taken on July 19 and this enabled the 120th to break out of the hedgerows. 

After rest and reorganization on August 3d and 4th, the 120th resumed the offensive and advanced seventy miles south and east to Mortain where its objective was to hold both Mortain and Hill 314 which commanded roads leading east and west on the north and south of the hill. After assuming their positions, friendly aircraft bombed the troops in Mortain on the afternoon of August 6, 1944.  PFC Kelly was killed in action on this date.

Private First Class Simon A. Kelly is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Henderson, North Carolina. 

Last edited: 30 May 2026