Kenneth W. Durant

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Kenneth W. Durant
March 2, 1919(1919-03-02)November 3, 1942 (aged 23)
Place of birth Algona, Iowa
Place of death Guadalcanal
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1940 to 1942
Rank Pharmacist's Mate Third Class
Unit Served with U.S. Marines
Battles/wars World War II
*Guadalcanal
Awards Silver Star medal (posthumous)

Kenneth W. Durant (born 2 March 1919 in Algona, Iowa) was a United States Navy sailor.

Contents

[edit] Navy career

Durant enlisted in the Navy 19 June 1940. He was killed in action on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 3 November 1942 serving with the U.S. Marines.

[edit] Awarded Silver Star

Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Durant was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal for his devotion to duty in caring for the wounded and courage in facing machine gun and sniper fire in an attempt to rescue a wounded man.

[edit] Namesake

USS Durant (DE-389) was named in his honor. The ship was launched 3 August 1943 by Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. S. R. Durant, mother of Pharmacist's Mate Durant; and commissioned 16 November 1943, Lieutenant Commander C. C. Knapp, USCG, in command.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
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