Years of service 1940 to 1942 | Name Kenneth Durant | |
Born March 2, 1919
Algona, Iowa ( 1919-03-02 ) Died November 3, 1942(1942-11-03) (aged 23)
Guadalcanal Place of burial Manila American (ABMC) Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines Allegiance United States of America Rank Pharmacist's Mate Third Class | ||
Service/branch United States Navy | ||
Kenneth W. Durant (2 March 1919 – 3 November 1942) was a United States Navy sailor.
Contents
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 United States Marines.
He is still carried on the rolls as unaccounted-for, presumed dead. There is a cenotaph, or memorial grave for him at Manila American (ABMC) Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines.
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.
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.