Kenneth A. Walsh
Kenneth Ambrose Walsh | |
|---|---|
VMF-124 | |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross (7) Air Medal (15) |
Kenneth Ambrose Walsh (November 24, 1916 – July 30, 1998) was a
Early life
Walsh was born in
Military career
Walsh enlisted in the Marine Corps on 15 December 1933, at age 17. Following recruit training at
At the time of the
President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented Walsh the Medal of Honor on 8 February 1944; he was promoted to temporary captain effective 8 February when he received the award and was promoted to permanent captain on 13 November 1948.[9]
Walsh returned to flying combat missions in April 1945, serving with
Walsh served in Korea during the Korean War with VMR-152 (Marine Transport Squadron 152), flying C-54 transports, from 15 July 1950 to late July 1951.[11] He was promoted to major in April 1955 and lieutenant colonel in October 1958.
Retirement and later life
In 1955 Walsh moved his family to the West Floral Park neighborhood of Santa Ana. Walsh retired from the Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel on 1 February 1962. He was a frequent participant in history seminars and often assisted researchers and historians interested in the Pacific War.
Walsh died at age 81 due to a heart attack. He left a widow, Beulah, and a son, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 13 August 1998.
Military awards
Walsh's military decorations and awards include:[12]
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Naval Aviator Badge
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| Medal of Honor | Distinguished Flying Cross w/ one 5⁄16" Silver Star and one 5⁄16" Gold Star | ||||||||||
| Air Medal w/ two 5⁄16" Silver Stars and two 5⁄16" Gold Stars |
Air Medal w/ 5⁄16" Gold Star (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing) |
Combat Action Ribbon w/ 5⁄16" Gold Star | |||||||||
| Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 3⁄16" Bronze Star |
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal w/ 3⁄16" Bronze Star | |||||||||
| American Defense Service Medal w/ 3⁄16" Bronze Star |
American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ four 3⁄16" Bronze Stars | |||||||||
World War II Victory Medal
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Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ 'Asia' clasp |
National Defense Service Medal w/ 3⁄16" Bronze Star | |||||||||
| Korean Service Medal w/ three 3⁄16" Bronze Stars |
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
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Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
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| Philippine Liberation Medal w/ 3⁄16" Bronze Star |
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
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Korean War Service Medal | |||||||||
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron 124, U.S. Marine Corps.
Place and date: Solomon Islands area, 15 and 30 August 1943.
Entered service at: New York.
Born: 24 November 1916, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Other Navy awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with 5 Gold Stars
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as a pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron 124 in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area. Determined to thwart the enemy's attempt to bomb Allied ground forces and shipping at
Munda, quickly replaced it with another, and proceeded to rejoin his flight over Kahili. Separated from his escort group when he encountered approximately 50 Japanese Zeros, he unhesitatingly attacked, striking with relentless fury in his lone battle against a powerful force. He destroyed 4 hostile fighters before cannon shellfire forced him to make a dead-stick landing off Vella Lavella where he was later picked up. His valiant leadership and his daring skill as a flier served as a source of confidence and inspiration to his fellow pilots and reflect the highest credit upon the U.S. Naval Service.[13]
See also
Notes
- ^ Kenneth A. Walsh, Marine Corps Medal of honor himself. Accessed July 1, 2019.
- ^ The Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipeients
- ^ Veteran Tributes
- ^ The Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipients
- ^ Veteran Tributes
- ^ The Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipients
- ^ The Marine Corps Medal of Honr Recipients
- ^ Walsh's memorable actions on the second of those actions, on 30 August, are documented in Edward H. Sims' book Greatest Fighter Missions, as the fifth chapter of that compilation.
- ^ The Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipients
- ^ Military Ties, Hall of Valor
- ^ The Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipients
- ^ Veteran Tributes
- ^ "Medal of Honor recipients". World War II (T – Z). United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
References
- Barrett Tillman (1979). Corsair: The F4U in World War II and Korea. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis
- Frank Olynyk (1995). Stars & Bars: A Tribute to the American Fighter Ace 1920–1973. Grub Street, London
Further reading
- Jordan, Kenneth N. (August 1997). Men of Honor: Thirty-Eight Highly Decorated Marines of World War Ii, Korea, and Vietnam. A Schiffer Military History Book. Schiffer Aviation History. ISBN 978-0-7643-0247-3. NB: Includes profile of Kenneth Walsh.
External links
- Arlington National Cemetery
- "Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Ambrose Walsh, USMC, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2006-07-15". Archived from the original on 2011-05-05. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- Mersky, Commander Peter B. Time of the Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons, Marines in World War II Commemorative Series, Marine Corps History and Museums Division, United States Marine Corps, 1993. (Retrieved on 2006-07-15)
