Albert W. Kenner

Albert Walton Kenner[1] (December 15, 1889 – November 12, 1959) was a highly decorated Major General in the Medical Corps of the United States Army. During World War II, he was a Chief medical officer for Operation Torch and Operation Overlord.

Albert Walton Kenner
Born(1889-12-15)December 15, 1889
Holyoke, Massachusetts
DiedNovember 12, 1959(1959-11-12) (aged 69)
Washington, D.C.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1916–1949
Rank Major General
Battles/warsPancho Villa Expedition
World War I

World War II

AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star (3)
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart

Early life and World War I

Albert Walton Kenner was born on December 15, 1889, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. In his youth, his family moved to Virginia, where he grew up. He attended an Emerson Institute and subsequently George Washington University, where he earned his M.D. in 1915. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity while at George Washington.[2]

Kenner joined the Army in 1916 and served during Pancho Villa Expedition. Following World War I, Kenner sailed to France with the American Expeditionary Force, where he served as a medical officer in the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.

During the heavy fighting at Soissons, the regimental commander, Colonel Hamilton A. Smith, was mortally wounded.[3] Kenner voluntarily went through front lines under heavy machine-gun fire in the hope of helping him.[4] Finding Colonel Smith dead, he recovered his body and returned to his lines. For this action, Kenner was decorated for gallantry with the Distinguished Service Cross.

In addition to his World War I decorations, he received three Silver Stars, a Purple Heart for wounds, French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm and Legion of Honour.

Retirement

Major general Kenner retired on June 30, 1949, and stayed in Washington, D.C., area with his wife, Raymonde Minard Kenner (1896–1959) until his death on November 12, 1959, at the age of 69 years. On April 16, 1962, the army hospital at Fort Lee, Virginia (now Kenner Army Health Clinic) was named in his honor.[5]

Decorations

For his military services, major general Albert W. Kenner received a large number of decorations for gallantry in action or for other distinguished service.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

His official Distinguished Service Cross Citation reads:

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 15 (1919)
Action Date: 22-July-1918
Name: Albert Walton Kenner
Service: Army
Rank: Major
Regiment: 26th Infantry Regiment (Attached)
Division: 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces
Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Medical Corps) Albert W. Kenner, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 26th Infantry Regiment (Attached), 1st Division, A.E.F., near Soissons, France, 22 July 1918. Learning that his regimental commander had been mortally wounded, Major Kenner voluntarily went through machine-gun fire beyond the front lines in the hope of helping him. Finding his colonel dead, he recovered the body, in spite of the danger to which such action subjected him.[4]

Ribbon bar

Here is his ribbon bar:

1st Row Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ OLC Silver Star w/ two OLCs
2nd Row Legion of Merit Purple Heart Mexican Border Service Medal World War I Victory Medal w/ five battle clasps
3rd Row Army of Occupation of Germany Medal American Defense Service Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ four service stars
4th Row World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal Officer of the Legion of Honour Chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques
5th Row Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1914–1918 French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm Knight of the Belgian Order of the Crown Belgian Croix de guerre 1940-1945 with Palm
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References
  1. "Biography of Major-General Albert Walton Kenner (1889 – 1959), USA".
  2. John McKelway (March 1955). "A Remarkable Major General". The Signet. 67 (2): 87.
  3. "Hamilton Allen Smith, Colonel, United States Army".
  4. "Albert Kenner - Recipient - Military Times Hall of Valor".
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2012-10-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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