California Birth Index
Name: James Avery Kennedy
Birth Date: 1 Jun 1926
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Brown
Birth County: Santa Clara
James enlisted in the Army on 21 Aug 1944 from San Francisco. At the time of his enlistment he was residing in Santa Clara County, CA. He was killed in action in France less than 7 months later. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and several other medals of Valor.
He was attached to the 232nd Infantry, 42nd Division Artillary or 42nd Division Military Police, also know as the Rainbow Division. The Rainbow Division was activated during WWII on 14 Jul 1943, leaving for overseas in the Autumn of 1944, they were designated Task Force Linden
According to some information found on this unit they:
Were in Rhineland 15 Sep 1944 - 21 Mar 1945
Were at Ardennes-Alsace 16 Dec 1944 - 15 Jan 1945
Entered Germany 18 Mar 1945
In Central Europe 22 Mar - 8 May 1945
Arrived in France 7 Dec 1945
Note: If these dates are right then my family history passed down to me would be wrong as James is said to have died on the beaches of Normandy on 13 Mar 1945, the above dates would suggest the company was not there at that time. Also if he died at Normandy why is he buried in Ardennes-Alsace in Belgium. Suddenly I have have more questions than answers.
Update: Thanks to the kindness of a stranger, I now have the picture of James' cross that proves his death date is correct.
He was survived by his mother and his only sibling, a sister, Joan Kennedy Wilcox. His brother in law was Frank Alfred Wilcox who was born 27 Apr 1919 in CA and died 19 Aug 2004 in Sacramento County, CA. Frank married James' sister Joan on 10 Mar 1946 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in San Jose. He also was survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and his grandmother Ella. His first cousin was my mother, Patricia Jane Greer making James my first cousin once removed.
Thanks to the kindness of yet another stranger, I have the following account of my cousin, my hero.
"General Order No. 46, issued in 1946 has this Bronze Star Award citation -
The Bronze Star Medal (Posthumous) is awarded to James A. Kennedy, 39 423 416, Private First Class, Infantry, Company I, 232nd Infantry Regiment, for heroic achievement in action on 12 March 1945, near Lichtenberg, France. As first scout for a combat patrol near Lichtenberg, France, Private Kennedy led the patrol successfully through several mine fields to the objective. Boldly exposing himself to draw enemy fire in order to locate the enemy positions, he advanced toward the enemy as they opened fire with machine guns and mortars, firing as he ran. While still proceeding in the face of the deadly barrage, he was mortally wounded by a burst from an enemy machine gun, but only after he had successfully enabled his comrades, by his heroic action, to advance on the emplacements. Name and address of nearest relative: Mrs. Hazel B. Kennedy (Mother), Route 1 Box 291, San Jose, California."
Name: James Avery Kennedy
Death Date: 13 Mar 1945
Cemetery: Ardennes American Cemetery
Cemetery Burial Plot: Plot C Row 2 Grave 27
Cemetery City: Neupre
Cemetery Country: Belgium
War: World War II
Awards: Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
Title: Private First Class
Rank: Private First Class
Service: U.S. Army
Service ID: 39423416
Division: 232nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division
Data Source: World War II Honor Roll
Name: James Avery Kennedy
Birth Date: 1 Jun 1926
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Brown
Birth County: Santa Clara
James enlisted in the Army on 21 Aug 1944 from San Francisco. At the time of his enlistment he was residing in Santa Clara County, CA. He was killed in action in France less than 7 months later. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and several other medals of Valor.
He was attached to the 232nd Infantry, 42nd Division Artillary or 42nd Division Military Police, also know as the Rainbow Division. The Rainbow Division was activated during WWII on 14 Jul 1943, leaving for overseas in the Autumn of 1944, they were designated Task Force Linden
According to some information found on this unit they:
Were in Rhineland 15 Sep 1944 - 21 Mar 1945
Were at Ardennes-Alsace 16 Dec 1944 - 15 Jan 1945
Entered Germany 18 Mar 1945
In Central Europe 22 Mar - 8 May 1945
Arrived in France 7 Dec 1945
Note: If these dates are right then my family history passed down to me would be wrong as James is said to have died on the beaches of Normandy on 13 Mar 1945, the above dates would suggest the company was not there at that time. Also if he died at Normandy why is he buried in Ardennes-Alsace in Belgium. Suddenly I have have more questions than answers.
Update: Thanks to the kindness of a stranger, I now have the picture of James' cross that proves his death date is correct.
He was survived by his mother and his only sibling, a sister, Joan Kennedy Wilcox. His brother in law was Frank Alfred Wilcox who was born 27 Apr 1919 in CA and died 19 Aug 2004 in Sacramento County, CA. Frank married James' sister Joan on 10 Mar 1946 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in San Jose. He also was survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and his grandmother Ella. His first cousin was my mother, Patricia Jane Greer making James my first cousin once removed.
Thanks to the kindness of yet another stranger, I have the following account of my cousin, my hero.
"General Order No. 46, issued in 1946 has this Bronze Star Award citation -
The Bronze Star Medal (Posthumous) is awarded to James A. Kennedy, 39 423 416, Private First Class, Infantry, Company I, 232nd Infantry Regiment, for heroic achievement in action on 12 March 1945, near Lichtenberg, France. As first scout for a combat patrol near Lichtenberg, France, Private Kennedy led the patrol successfully through several mine fields to the objective. Boldly exposing himself to draw enemy fire in order to locate the enemy positions, he advanced toward the enemy as they opened fire with machine guns and mortars, firing as he ran. While still proceeding in the face of the deadly barrage, he was mortally wounded by a burst from an enemy machine gun, but only after he had successfully enabled his comrades, by his heroic action, to advance on the emplacements. Name and address of nearest relative: Mrs. Hazel B. Kennedy (Mother), Route 1 Box 291, San Jose, California."
Name: James Avery Kennedy
Death Date: 13 Mar 1945
Cemetery: Ardennes American Cemetery
Cemetery Burial Plot: Plot C Row 2 Grave 27
Cemetery City: Neupre
Cemetery Country: Belgium
War: World War II
Awards: Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
Title: Private First Class
Rank: Private First Class
Service: U.S. Army
Service ID: 39423416
Division: 232nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division
Data Source: World War II Honor Roll
California Birth Index
Name: James Avery Kennedy
Birth Date: 1 Jun 1926
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Brown
Birth County: Santa Clara
James enlisted in the Army on 21 Aug 1944 from San Francisco. At the time of his enlistment he was residing in Santa Clara County, CA. He was killed in action in France less than 7 months later. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and several other medals of Valor.
He was attached to the 232nd Infantry, 42nd Division Artillary or 42nd Division Military Police, also know as the Rainbow Division. The Rainbow Division was activated during WWII on 14 Jul 1943, leaving for overseas in the Autumn of 1944, they were designated Task Force Linden
According to some information found on this unit they:
Were in Rhineland 15 Sep 1944 - 21 Mar 1945
Were at Ardennes-Alsace 16 Dec 1944 - 15 Jan 1945
Entered Germany 18 Mar 1945
In Central Europe 22 Mar - 8 May 1945
Arrived in France 7 Dec 1945
Note: If these dates are right then my family history passed down to me would be wrong as James is said to have died on the beaches of Normandy on 13 Mar 1945, the above dates would suggest the company was not there at that time. Also if he died at Normandy why is he buried in Ardennes-Alsace in Belgium. Suddenly I have have more questions than answers.
Update: Thanks to the kindness of a stranger, I now have the picture of James' cross that proves his death date is correct.
He was survived by his mother and his only sibling, a sister, Joan Kennedy Wilcox. His brother in law was Frank Alfred Wilcox who was born 27 Apr 1919 in CA and died 19 Aug 2004 in Sacramento County, CA. Frank married James' sister Joan on 10 Mar 1946 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in San Jose. He also was survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and his grandmother Ella. His first cousin was my mother, Patricia Jane Greer making James my first cousin once removed.
Thanks to the kindness of yet another stranger, I have the following account of my cousin, my hero.
"General Order No. 46, issued in 1946 has this Bronze Star Award citation -
The Bronze Star Medal (Posthumous) is awarded to James A. Kennedy, 39 423 416, Private First Class, Infantry, Company I, 232nd Infantry Regiment, for heroic achievement in action on 12 March 1945, near Lichtenberg, France. As first scout for a combat patrol near Lichtenberg, France, Private Kennedy led the patrol successfully through several mine fields to the objective. Boldly exposing himself to draw enemy fire in order to locate the enemy positions, he advanced toward the enemy as they opened fire with machine guns and mortars, firing as he ran. While still proceeding in the face of the deadly barrage, he was mortally wounded by a burst from an enemy machine gun, but only after he had successfully enabled his comrades, by his heroic action, to advance on the emplacements. Name and address of nearest relative: Mrs. Hazel B. Kennedy (Mother), Route 1 Box 291, San Jose, California."
Name: James Avery Kennedy
Death Date: 13 Mar 1945
Cemetery: Ardennes American Cemetery
Cemetery Burial Plot: Plot C Row 2 Grave 27
Cemetery City: Neupre
Cemetery Country: Belgium
War: World War II
Awards: Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
Title: Private First Class
Rank: Private First Class
Service: U.S. Army
Service ID: 39423416
Division: 232nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division
Data Source: World War II Honor Roll
Name: James Avery Kennedy
Birth Date: 1 Jun 1926
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Brown
Birth County: Santa Clara
James enlisted in the Army on 21 Aug 1944 from San Francisco. At the time of his enlistment he was residing in Santa Clara County, CA. He was killed in action in France less than 7 months later. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and several other medals of Valor.
He was attached to the 232nd Infantry, 42nd Division Artillary or 42nd Division Military Police, also know as the Rainbow Division. The Rainbow Division was activated during WWII on 14 Jul 1943, leaving for overseas in the Autumn of 1944, they were designated Task Force Linden
According to some information found on this unit they:
Were in Rhineland 15 Sep 1944 - 21 Mar 1945
Were at Ardennes-Alsace 16 Dec 1944 - 15 Jan 1945
Entered Germany 18 Mar 1945
In Central Europe 22 Mar - 8 May 1945
Arrived in France 7 Dec 1945
Note: If these dates are right then my family history passed down to me would be wrong as James is said to have died on the beaches of Normandy on 13 Mar 1945, the above dates would suggest the company was not there at that time. Also if he died at Normandy why is he buried in Ardennes-Alsace in Belgium. Suddenly I have have more questions than answers.
Update: Thanks to the kindness of a stranger, I now have the picture of James' cross that proves his death date is correct.
He was survived by his mother and his only sibling, a sister, Joan Kennedy Wilcox. His brother in law was Frank Alfred Wilcox who was born 27 Apr 1919 in CA and died 19 Aug 2004 in Sacramento County, CA. Frank married James' sister Joan on 10 Mar 1946 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in San Jose. He also was survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and his grandmother Ella. His first cousin was my mother, Patricia Jane Greer making James my first cousin once removed.
Thanks to the kindness of yet another stranger, I have the following account of my cousin, my hero.
"General Order No. 46, issued in 1946 has this Bronze Star Award citation -
The Bronze Star Medal (Posthumous) is awarded to James A. Kennedy, 39 423 416, Private First Class, Infantry, Company I, 232nd Infantry Regiment, for heroic achievement in action on 12 March 1945, near Lichtenberg, France. As first scout for a combat patrol near Lichtenberg, France, Private Kennedy led the patrol successfully through several mine fields to the objective. Boldly exposing himself to draw enemy fire in order to locate the enemy positions, he advanced toward the enemy as they opened fire with machine guns and mortars, firing as he ran. While still proceeding in the face of the deadly barrage, he was mortally wounded by a burst from an enemy machine gun, but only after he had successfully enabled his comrades, by his heroic action, to advance on the emplacements. Name and address of nearest relative: Mrs. Hazel B. Kennedy (Mother), Route 1 Box 291, San Jose, California."
Name: James Avery Kennedy
Death Date: 13 Mar 1945
Cemetery: Ardennes American Cemetery
Cemetery Burial Plot: Plot C Row 2 Grave 27
Cemetery City: Neupre
Cemetery Country: Belgium
War: World War II
Awards: Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
Title: Private First Class
Rank: Private First Class
Service: U.S. Army
Service ID: 39423416
Division: 232nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry Division
Data Source: World War II Honor Roll
