| Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr. | |
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Medal of Honor recipient |
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| Born | October 1, 1943 Bethel, Connecticut |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1960-1990 |
| Rank | Sergeant Major |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart (3) |
Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr. (born October 1, 1943) is a retired sergeant major in the United States Marine Corps. He received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions as a Staff Sergeant on March 11, 1970, during the Vietnam War.
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Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr. was born on October 1, 1943, in Bethel, Connecticut, and graduated from elementary school there in 1958. He attended Bethel High School for two years before dropping out in 1959.[1] He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on November 14, 1960, in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
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.
In 1984, Kellogg designated The Unknown service member from the Vietnam War during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, May 17, 1984. The Unknown service member was later identified in 1998 as Air Force 1st Lt Michael Joseph Blassie, following mitochondrial DNA testing.
After retiring from the military, Kellogg remained in Hawaii and worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a benefit counselor at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.[1] Son Aaron is a Paratrooper in the U.S Army
A complete list of his medals and decorations includes:
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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:
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.