Tribute to Jesse William Kennedy
Branch of Service: US Army
Unit: C Company, 292nd Engineer Combat Battalion
Jesse W. Kennedy was born in the Piedmont-Severy, Kansas area on July 29, 1919. Before the war, Jesse worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps camp and the Elk County Highway Department on roads and highways. He married Louella B. Adams on August 12, 1939 before going into the United States Army in 1944. Jesse used his civilian skills working with road-building machinery to to build and maintain roads for the Army. He served with the 292nd Engineer Combat Battalion in Belgium, Holland, France and Germany. For his service during the war, Jesse was awarded the European, Africa and Middle East Theater Medal with 2 bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal (medals pictured below).
After returning to the U.S., Jesse was honorably discharged as a Private, First Class from the Army at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas on November 27, 1945. Jesse returned to Howard, Kansas where he raised three daughters: Karen Kay, Sandra Sue (Runyon), Elaine (Waugerin) and one son Danny Ray. He also was an avid outdoor sportsman, including hunting, fishing and camping all over Kansas for years.
Jesse joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the Sedan and Howard, KS Chapters. He worked at various mechanical shops in Howard from 1945 to 1965 when he opened his own "Kennedy Repair Shop" for cars, trucks, combines, tractors, oil drilling rigs and alfalfa machinery.
Jesse W. Kennedy passed away on January 21, 1994 in Independence, Kansas.
Submitted by Karen Kennedy (daughter)
Updated 4/12/10