Raymond R. "Ray" Kennedy 1895-1951

KENNEDY, WALZ

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/12/2011 at 17:00:26

Ray Kennedy, World War I Hero, Dies
Much Decorated for Gallantry
Raymond R. Kennedy, 56, farmer, rural mail carrier and World War I hero, died at 6:30 p.m. yesterday of a heart attack at his home in Estherville He had been troubled with a heart ailment for the past four years.

Mr. Kennedy lost his left leg on a battlefield in France, where he was a dispatch runer. He ignored enemy fire to carry communications and was decorated by the governments of France, Great Britain and Italy for “bravery and extraordinary devotion to duty.”

The Prince of Wales, who was to become the king of England, awarded the British decoration personally.

The United States awarded Mr. Kennedy the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart and he became one of America’s most decorated servicemen.

Mr. Kennedy was born Jan. 28 1895, at Elva, Ill., and lived there until he moved to Estherville in 1916. He was a member of the Catholic church, Knights of Columbus, Elks and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He is survived by his wife, a son, Robert, of Walker, Minn.; a daughter, Mrs. Don Walz, of Estherville; four brothers, one sister and four grandchildren.

The Rev. Father James H. Duhigg will officiate at the funeral services at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick’s Catholic church. Burial will be at St. Patrick’s cemetery. The body will lie in state at the Sternborg funeral home from 5 p.m. today until 5 p.m. tomorrow. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, August 30, 1951)