Thomas James Kennedy
July 31, 1920 — May 12, 2016
LTC (Retired) Thomas James Kennedy, Jr. of Columbus, GA died Thursday, May 12, 2016 at Spring Harbor at the age of 95.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, May 16, 2016 at St. Anne Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Jeremiah McCarthy officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be held at the Ft. Benning Main Post Cemetery with a reception to follow at the National Infantry Museum. The family will receive friends Sunday from 4:00-6:00 PM at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
LTC Kennedy was born July 31, 1920 in Philadelphia, PA, son of the late Thomas James Kennedy, Sr. and Roberta Kennedy. Tom enlisted in the Army in 1942 and later attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned on October 3, 1942. As part of the greatest generation, he parachuted into Normandy on D-Day with G Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Currahee), 101st Airborne Division, where he earned the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star and was awarded the Purple Heart. His military career of 20 years spanned assignments across Alaska, Panama and return airborne assignments at Ft. Benning and with the 101st Airborne Division. He was proudest of his service with the Parachute Infantry units and his long affiliation with the Black Hats at the Airborne School, taking great joy in awarding novice parachute wings to Airborne School graduates completing their 5th jump on Fryar Drop Zone while sporting his Master Parachutist wings with combat jump star and Glider wings. He was the last surviving officer of G Company.
LTC Kennedy was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church, past President of the Retired Officers Association and was a member of the Light Brigade Softball Team that participated in the 1986 Senior League World Series.
Other than his parents, LTC Kennedy was preceded in death by his wife Martha C. Kennedy and his granddaughter Sharon Cooper. Survivors include three daughters, Ann Cooper(Leo) of Marietta, GA, Sheila Skiles (Leonard) of Dripping Springs, TX, Jean Hoogland (Steve) of Springfield, VA, one son, Thomas Kennedy, III of Chattanooga, TN, 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 5116 River Road, Suite M, Columbus, GA 31904 or the National Infantry Museum, www.nationalinfantrymuseum.org.
3874 Gentian Blvd Post Office Box 7907
Columbus, GA, 31908
2000 Kay Circle
Columbus, GA, 31901
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, May 16, 2016 at St. Anne Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Jeremiah McCarthy officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be held at the Ft. Benning Main Post Cemetery with a reception to follow at the National Infantry Museum. The family will receive friends Sunday from 4:00-6:00 PM at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
LTC Kennedy was born July 31, 1920 in Philadelphia, PA, son of the late Thomas James Kennedy, Sr. and Roberta Kennedy. Tom enlisted in the Army in 1942 and later attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned on October 3, 1942. As part of the greatest generation, he parachuted into Normandy on D-Day with G Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Currahee), 101st Airborne Division, where he earned the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star and was awarded the Purple Heart. His military career of 20 years spanned assignments across Alaska, Panama and return airborne assignments at Ft. Benning and with the 101st Airborne Division. He was proudest of his service with the Parachute Infantry units and his long affiliation with the Black Hats at the Airborne School, taking great joy in awarding novice parachute wings to Airborne School graduates completing their 5th jump on Fryar Drop Zone while sporting his Master Parachutist wings with combat jump star and Glider wings. He was the last surviving officer of G Company.
LTC Kennedy was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church, past President of the Retired Officers Association and was a member of the Light Brigade Softball Team that participated in the 1986 Senior League World Series.
Other than his parents, LTC Kennedy was preceded in death by his wife Martha C. Kennedy and his granddaughter Sharon Cooper. Survivors include three daughters, Ann Cooper(Leo) of Marietta, GA, Sheila Skiles (Leonard) of Dripping Springs, TX, Jean Hoogland (Steve) of Springfield, VA, one son, Thomas Kennedy, III of Chattanooga, TN, 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 5116 River Road, Suite M, Columbus, GA 31904 or the National Infantry Museum, www.nationalinfantrymuseum.org.
Visitation
MAY 15. 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM (EDT)
McMullen Funeral Home3874 Gentian Blvd Post Office Box 7907
Columbus, GA, 31908
Funeral Service
MAY 16. 11:00 AM (EDT)
St. Anne Catholic Church2000 Kay Circle
Columbus, GA, 31901
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