Allan J. Kellogg

Infobox Military Person
name= Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr.
born= birth date and age|1943|10|1
died=
placeofbirth= Bethel, Connecticut
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United States United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1960-1990
rank= Sergeant Major
commands=
unit= 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines
battles= Vietnam War
awards= Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart (3)
laterwork=

Sergeant Major Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr., USMC, (born October 1, 1943) is a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions on March 11, 1970, in Quang Nam province, Republic of Vietnam. At the time of this action, he was a Staff Sergeant.

Biography

Early years

Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr. was born on October 1, 1943, in Bethel, Connecticut, and graduated from elementary school there in 1958. He attended high school for two years, prior to enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps on November 14, 1960, in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Marine Corps service

He received recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina and individual combat training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Following graduation, he was assigned duty as a rifleman, assistant automatic rifleman, and fire team leader, consecutively, with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune. He was promoted to Private First Class in June 1961, to Lance Corporal in April 1962, and to Corporal in October 1962. From December 1962 until November 1964, Cpl Kellogg served as squad leader with Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Brigade. Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned duty as Sergeant of the Guard, Marine Air Base Squadron 31, Marine Aircraft Group 31 at Beaufort, South Carolina. He was promoted to Sergeant on May 1, 1965.

In March 1966, he was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as Weapons Platoon Sergeant and later, Company Supply Non-commissioned Officer of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant on July 1, 1967.

In December 1967, SSgt Kellogg was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, serving as a squad leader with M-16 Special Task Group Command, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines and subsequently as a platoon sergeant, and later, platoon commander of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.

Returning for his second tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam in December 1969, SSgt Kellogg served briefly as a platoon sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines. During March 1970, he was reassigned duty as a platoon sergeant of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. His actions on March 11, 1970 earned him the Medal of Honor. Wounded in action in Quang Nam Province on May 8, 1970, he was evacuated to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan.

He was released from the hospital in October 1970 and returned to duty that December, when he assumed his assignment as Instructor, Field Medical Service School, at Camp Pendleton, California. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant on July 1, 1972. He was later promoted to Sergeant Major, and retired from the Marine Corps in October 1990.

Medals and decorations

A complete list of his medals and decorations includes:

*

* (with Combat “V”)

* (with two gold stars)

* Combat Action Ribbon

* Presidential Unit Citation (United States)

*)

* Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (with three bronze stars)

* National Defense Service Medal

* (with one silver star)

* (with palm and gold frame)

* (with palm and gold frame)

* (with device)

*Rifle Expert Badge

*Pistol Expert Badge

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
GUNNERY SERGEANT ALLAN J. KELLOGG, JR. UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company G, in connection with combat operations against the enemy on the night of March 11, 1970. Under the leadership of G/Sgt. Kellogg, a small unit from Company G was evacuating a fallen comrade when the unit came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior enemy force occupying well-concealed emplacements in the surrounding jungle. During the ensuing fierce engagement, an enemy soldier managed to maneuver through the dense foliage to a position near the marines, and hurled a hand grenade into their midst which glanced off the chest of G/Sgt. Kellogg. Quick to act, he forced the grenade into the mud in which he was standing, threw himself over the lethal weapon and absorbed the full effects of its detonation with his body thereby preventing serious injury or possible death to several of his fellow marines. Although suffering multiple injuries to his chest and his right shoulder and arm, G/Sgt. Kellogg resolutely continued to direct the efforts of his men until all were able to maneuver to the relative safety of the company perimeter. By his heroic and decisive action in risking his life to save the lives of his comrades, G/Sgt. Kellogg reflected the highest credit upon himself and upheld the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.cite web
accessdate=2007-09-12
url=http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/msc/1MARDIV/2BN5MAR/kellogg.htm
title=GySgt Allan J. Kellogg, Jr., Medal of Honor, 1970, 2/5/1, Viet Nam
publisher=2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

Notes

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web
accessdate=2005-11-25
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa400458de5?OpenDocument
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070222174523/www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa400458de5?OpenDocument
archivedate=2007-07-09
title=GySgt Allen J. Kellogg, Jr., Medal of Honor
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps (Medal of Honor citation)
* [http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Kellogg_AJ.htm Sergeant Major Allen J. Kellogg, USMC] , "Who's Who in Marine Corps History", History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2007-09-12.

Persondata
NAME= Kellogg, Allan J.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= October 1, 1943
PLACE OF BIRTH= Bethel, Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=