Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a US Navy Medical Corpsman in the 1st Marine Division. During actions in North Korea on the night of August 12, 1952, Corpsman Kelmer's unit was pinned down under heavy enemy mortar fire while in defensive positions ahead of the main line of resistance. He moved from position to position in the defense line through mortar fire, administering aid to the wounded and oversaw their evacuation. He was wounded by shrapnel from an exploding mortar round while giving aid to a wounded soldier, but continued on. He was on his way to two Marines, to treat the soldier's wounds when another heavy barrage of mortar fire began. The two men were unprotected from the explosions and Corpsman Kilmer, without hesitation, shielded the wounded man from shrapnel with his own body. He was mortally wounded during the shelling, but his heroic self sacrifice saved the wounded men. For his heroic sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on June 18, 1953.
Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a US Navy Medical Corpsman in the 1st Marine Division. During actions in North Korea on the night of August 12, 1952, Corpsman Kelmer's unit was pinned down under heavy enemy mortar fire while in defensive positions ahead of the main line of resistance. He moved from position to position in the defense line through mortar fire, administering aid to the wounded and oversaw their evacuation. He was wounded by shrapnel from an exploding mortar round while giving aid to a wounded soldier, but continued on. He was on his way to two Marines, to treat the soldier's wounds when another heavy barrage of mortar fire began. The two men were unprotected from the explosions and Corpsman Kilmer, without hesitation, shielded the wounded man from shrapnel with his own body. He was mortally wounded during the shelling, but his heroic self sacrifice saved the wounded men. For his heroic sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on June 18, 1953.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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