Paul X. Kelley
American general (1928–2019) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paul Xavier Kelley (November 11, 1928 – December 29, 2019) was a United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 28th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps from July 1, 1983, to June 30, 1987.
Paul X. Kelley | |
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Birth name | Paul Xavier Kelley |
Born | (1928-11-11)November 11, 1928 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Died | December 29, 2019(2019-12-29) (aged 91) McLean, Virginia, U.S. |
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1950–1987 |
Rank | General |
Commands | Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force 4th Marine Division 1st Marine Regiment 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit (3) w/ Combat "V" Bronze Star Medal (2) w/ Combat "V" |
Other work | Cassidy & Associates Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission |
Kelley served 37 years active duty in the Marine Corps. Commissioned through Villanova College's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1950, his first posting was with Aircraft Engineering Squadron 12 (AES-12) at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico, Virginia. He then served an exchange tour with the Royal Marines, and later joined the Marine Force Reconnaissance community and served with distinction during the Vietnam War. Kelley's final assignments were as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and then Commandant of the Marine Corps until his retirement in 1987. Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Kelley served on a number of corporate boards.