1st Lt. Robert M. Kelly, USMC

Born: September 5, 1981 in Bethesda, Maryland

Died: November 9, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan

1st Lt. Robert M. Kelly of Tallahassee, Florida died at age 29 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. His awards include, the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He also received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Robert graduated from Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge, Virginia and a 2003 graduate of Florida State University. He was commissioned on Dec. 12, 2008 after having served as an enlisted Marine. He was serving his third combat deployment. Robert is the son of Karen Kelly and Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly, commander of the Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North. He also leaves a sister, Kathleen and a brother, John Kelly who is also is a Marine. He married his wife, Heather on June 30, 2007. Rob was quick-witted, intelligent and patriotic.

Please read the following from LT Kelly's dad:

From: Kelly LtGen John F

Date: November 12, 2010 10:23:20 PM EST

Subject: FW: My Boy

Family and Friends,

As I think you all know by now our Robert was killed in action protecting our country, its people, and its values from a terrible and relentless enemy, on 9 Nov, in Sangin, Afghanistan. He was leading his Grunts on a dismounted patrol when he was taken. They are shaken, but will recover quickly and already back at it. He went quickly and thank God he did not suffer. In combat that is as good as it gets, and we are thankful. We are a broken hearted - but proud family. He was a wonderful and precious boy living a meaningful life. He was in exactly the place he wanted to be, doing exactly what he wanted to do, surrounded by the best men on this earth - his Marines and Navy Doc.

The nation he served has honored us with promoting him posthumously to First Lieutenant of Marines. We will bury our son, now 1stLt Robert Michael Kelly USMC, in Arlington National Cemetery on 22 Nov. Services will commence at 1245 at Fort Myers. We will likely have a memorial receiving at a yet to be designated funeral home on 21 Nov. The coffin will be closed. Our son Captain John Kelly USMC, himself a multi-tour combat veteran and the best big brother on this earth, will escort the body from Dover Air Force Base to Arlington. From the moment he was killed he has never been alone and will remain under the protection of a Marine to his final resting place.

Many have offered prayers for us and we thank you, but his wonderful wife Heather and the rest of the clan ask that you direct the majority of your prayers to his platoon of Marines, still in contact and in "harm's way," and at greater risk without his steady leadership.

Thank you all for the many kindnesses we could not get through this without you all. Thank you all for being there for us. The pain in unimaginable, and we could not do this without you.

Semper Fidelis

John Kelly