Corporal Kelly was a member of the Machine Gun Platoon, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was seriously wounded on 3 June 1951, while defending his position on Hill 516 southwest of the "Punchbowl" in North Korea. He died of those wounds on 7 June 1951.

Kelly was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.