 He enlisted in the US Navy from Massachusetts, and served as a watertender in the collier during the Spanish–American War.Kelly was one of eight volunteer crew members when Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ordered "Merrimac" sunk to block the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba.On the night of 2-June 3, 1898, during the attempt to execute this mission, "Merrimac"s steering gear was disabled by enemy gunfire, and she sank without obstructing navigation.