Roll of Honor
John Lawrence Kelly
Incident
Customs Guard John Kelly fell into the Mississippi River from the revenue cutter Davey near the Chalmette slip and drowned. Guard Kelly had re-boarded the Davey after searching a Japanese vessel in the slip. As the cutter turned upstream Guard Kelly lost his balance and fell into the river. Lifelines and buoys were thrown to him but he sunk beneath the surface before he was able to grab them. Guard Kelly had served as a United States Customs Service guard for more than seven years. He had previously served with the New Orleans Fire Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two infant sons, and one brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-53743DA7- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Kelly gave the United States Department of the Treasury 7 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Kelly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard John Lawrence Kelly is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 44 of 94 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 46.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Lawrence Kelly's cause is highlighted.
How John Lawrence Kelly Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Lawrence Kelly is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
