Second Lieutenant John Thomas Kennedy, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 4, 1909 at Patian Island, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with 6th U.S. Cavalry. Kennedy was 23 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 23, 1912, 3 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.
Kennedy was born on July 22, 1885 in Hendersonville, Colleton County, South Carolina. His Medal of Honor is credited to Orangeburg, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Kennedy died on September 26, 1969 in Columbia, South Carolina, at the age of 84. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Kennedy is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 33 credited to South Carolina.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While in action against hostile Moros, he entered with a few enlisted men the mouth of a cave occupied by a desperate enemy, this act having been ordered after he had volunteered several times. In this action 2d Lt. Kennedy was severely wounded.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
In this action 2d Lt. Kennedy was severely wounded.
- Age at death: 84
- Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Philippine–American War, World War I, World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: The Citadel, United States Military Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in South Carolina →
Timeline
- July 22, 1885Born in Hendersonville, Colleton County, South Carolina
- July 4, 1909Act of valor — Patian Island, Philippine IslandsAge 23. 6th U.S. Cavalry
- November 23, 1912Medal of Honor presented
- September 26, 1969Died in Columbia, South CarolinaAge 84.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
John Thomas Kennedy (July 22, 1885 – September 26, 1969) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army with the rank of Brigadier General. He distinguished himself during the fighting with Moro rebels in the Philippines in 1909 and received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration awarded for valor. He was the last surviving US veteran of the Philippine–American War to receive that medal. Kennedy served in the Army for 36 years, distinguishing himself as Regimental commander in World War I. He rose to the general's rank in 1942 and commanded the training center at Fort Bragg during the World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “John Thomas Kennedy”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
