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Kennedy, William T.
William T. Kennedy U.S. Navy - Chaplain WWII
William T. Kennedy U.S. Navy - Chaplain WWII
 
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Date of Birth: 11/17/1912
Died On: 7/11/1991 Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut
Street Address: 109 Grace Church St
Service Number: unknown
Branch of Service: U.S. Navy - Chaplain - U. S. S. Griffin


Veteran Code: USN-344


BIOGRAPHY Extended Information
 
William Thomas Kennedy


William T. Kennedy William Kennedy was born November 17, 1912 in Pennsylvania to Annie Creen, age 36, and Hugh Kennedy, age 33. He had one sister Sara.

In Rye his family lived at 109 Grace Church St and were members of the Presbyterian Church. William was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1934.

He served in the U.S. Navy as a Chaplain during World War II.


Chaplain William T. Kennedy Sky Pilot On A U. S. Battleship
The duties of a chaplain in Uncle Sams Navy are apparently numerous and endless, according to a description of his life aboard the U. S. S. Griffin, as told by Chaplain William T. Kennedy, U. S. N. R. But to him, it just makes life that much more interesting. I like it, he said, with evident sincerity. Just back from the South Pacific area, Chaplain Kennedy is now on leave, and with Mrs. Kennedy, who comes from Tulsa, Okla. , is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Kennedy, on Grace Church Street.

In the service for over a year and a half, he finished Chaplains School at the Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth Va. , and was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, previous to his embarkation on the U. S. S. Griffin. In addition to being spiritual advisor aboard ship, he is educational officer, movie officer, and assists in the ships library. Besides being advisor for The Griffin Periscope, a bi-monthly publication printed on board for the good of the ship and the Navy, he gathers news and edits copy for the eight-page tabloid. An excerpt from a recent copy reads: The Periscope was first published in May of 1942, when the ship was a long way from home and working night and day to fulfill its mission. Since that time, the ship has religiously maintained its bi-monthly publication and despite the pressure under which it has been edited, it has always maintained a good standard. The greater part of the work involved rests mainly on the shoulders of the printing staff, who are always hampered by the delay experienced in getting copy. Sharing the heavy part of the burden is the Chaplain, who in addition to being advisor, is also responsible for the material published.

Chaplain Kennedy, explaining his contact with the Navy and the men aboard ship, expressed himself simply: I feel a tremendous satisfaction in being Chaplain for so fine a group of men, working for and with them in their routine life.
Friday, January 28, 1944 THE RYE CHRONICLE PAGE SEVEN

Name: William Thomas Kennedy Race: White Age: 27 Birth Date: 17 Nov 1912 Birth Place: Haverford, Penna. Residence Place: Rye, Westch, New York Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940 Registration Place: Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA Employer: Bloomfield Theodoqical Seminary - Student Weight: 180 Complexion: Ruddy Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Brown Height: 6 ft Next of Kin: Anne Kennedy

Name: William Kennedy Gender: Male Birth Date: 17 Nov 1912 Death Date: 11 Jul 1991 Cause of Death: Natural SSN: 553389756 Branch 1: NAVY Enlistment Date 1: 14 Jul 1942 Release Date 1: 23 Oct 1945 Branch 2: NAVY Enlistment Date 2: 23 Apr 1947 Release Date 2: 31 Jan 1964
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5 of 5 Thank you March 23, 2022
Reviewer: Christine Kennedy, Ph.D. from cawigg01@Louisville.edu  
Thank you for your kind description of my grandfather. He is my hero.

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