Lester M. Kennedy – Second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps

Lester M. Kennedy was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, 25 April 1937

He was a Marine Corps officer and had quickly completed flight school.  He was an F-8U pilot and VFM 333 at El Toro, California, and was killed near Barksdale, Louisiana, on 14 March 1964 while on a cross country flight to Beaufort, South Carolina.  His daughter, Leslie Adams, was born four months after he was killed.

Note: Lieutenant Kennedy was Don Ward’s (Lieutenant (jg), United States Navy) roommate at Pensacola, Florida.

Dear Michael:

I thought it was a miracle that Lieutenant Kennedy’s daughter contacted me after so many years.  Now, I have heard from a son that was born before he entered flight school and that no one knew about. Leslie Kennedy Adams lives in
Minneapolis, and will be 42 this summer, and Scott Leslie lives in Pittsburgh, and will be 47 this year. I had the priviledge of uniting the sister and brother who had never met before and they are thrilled…..makes me very happy too. Just thought I would add this to Lester’s memorial. Thanks again, Don Ward (LTJG Navy) Pattaya, Thailand.

KENNEDY, LESTER M JR

• 2/LT USMCR
• DATE OF BIRTH: 04/25/1937
• DATE OF DEATH: 03/14/1964
• BURIED AT: SECTION 35  SITE 1422
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard