James Delbert Kennedy Full Narrative

James Delbert Kennedy was born on January 30, 1923, in Salem, Oregon. He was an only child, and his family moved to Snoqualmie, Washington where he spent his childhood. He graduated from Snoqualmie High School in June 1941.  Kennedy attended Washington State College (WSC) from 1941 until 1943 as a General Studies major. While there, he played on the freshmen basketball team. Kennedy left WSC in September 1943 to enlist in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 6th Infantry Division, 6th Reconnaissance Troop. The 6th Infantry Division during World War II holds the unchallenged record for consecutive days of continuous combat in the Pacific Theater, at 219 continuous days of combat, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Kennedy would be a part of this engagement. The 6th Division landed in New Guinea on February 2, 1944, where they spent months preparing for battle with Australian forces. Kennedy participated in the 6th's campaign at Toem at Maffin Bay in Dutch New Guinea. He was also at Wakde-Sarmi, lasting from May 17 through September 2, 1944, and the Battle of Lone Tree Hill from June 21 to June 30, 1944. Kennedy survived the horrific conditions in New Guinea and landed at Sansapor on July 30-31, 1944 to begin training for the invasion of the Philippines.  The 6th Infantry Division landed on the morning of January 9, 1945, on the island of Luzon, and shortly after their 219 days of continuous battle began. Pfc. Kennedy found his patrol facing artillery and small arms fire on January 12, 1945, and they were forced to pull back. He was ordered to abandon his vehicle and gain cover in a ditch. However, Kennedy saw that his comrades were in danger, so he returned to the vehicle and dismounted a machine gun, which he used to cover his patrol’s withdrawal. While doing so, he was struck by shrapnel. He lived for a week after being wounded; Kennedy died on January 19, 1945, at the age of 22. He posthumously received the Silver Star for his bravery along with the Purple Heart. He is buried at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines, and is memorialized on the WSU Veterans memorial as well as the Snoqualmie Valley Veterans Memorial.