| Birth: | Jan. 1, 1934
Louisville
Jefferson County
Kentucky, USA | | Death: | Dec. 28, 2003
Yorktown
York County
Virginia, USA | 
Veteran of Vietnam War. Colonel - United States Air Force. Recipient of the Air Force Cross with one oak leaf cluster.
"(First Award)
Captain, U.S. Air Force
Detachment 5, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam
Date of Action: October 05, 1966
Citation:
The Air Force Cross is presented to Leland T. Kennedy, Captain, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force in Southeast Asia on 5 October 1966. On that date, Captain Kennedy, flying as pilot of an unarmed HH-3E rescue helicopter, proceeded deep into hostile territory in attempts to rescue two downed American pilots. Disregarding his own safety, he voluntarily flew through heavy automatic weapons and intense small arms fire to reach the injured airmen. Captain Kennedy succeeded in rescuing one of the downed American; however, heavy ground fire forced him from the area before he could reach the other one. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Captain Kennedy reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force
(Second Award)
Captain, U.S. Air Force
38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam
Date of Action: October 20, 1966
Citation:
The Air Force Cross is presented to Leland T. Kennedy, Captain, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a HH-3E Helicopter Pilot in Southeast Asia on 20 October 1966. On that date, Captain Kennedy successfully recovered six downed American airmen. Despite the intense, accurately directed, hostile fire which damaged his own unarmed rescue helicopter, Captain Kennedy, with indomitable courage and professional skill, chose to land next to a disabled companion helicopter and retrieve the crew, plus a previously rescued wounded F-4C pilot. With undaunted determination, Captain Kennedy, then amid hostile fire, sought and successfully recovered the second downed F-4C pilot. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Captain Kennedy reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force."
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Extracted from the Anchorage Daily News January 7, 2004; and provided by Nancy K:
Son of Edith and William Kennedy
"He graduated from the University of Kentucky Lexington in 1955. He was a career military officer in the U.S. Air Force who served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Col. Kennedy was the commander of the 531 ACW Group, later the 11 TCG, which was responsible for the manning, training and operations of all the Alaska U.S. Air Force radar sites from the late 1970s until 1982. "
| | | Burial:
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington
Arlington County
Virginia, USA
Plot: Section 54, Site 4664 |
Created by: Paula J
Record added: Jul 29, 2006
Find A Grave Memorial# 15077376 |
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Added by:
Hope
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Cemetery Photo
Added by:
James Seidelman
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