Born: March 22, 1918
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (wounded twice), Iwo Jima
Highest Rank Attained: First Lieutenant
Decorations: Purple Heart with Gold Star
Kenneth Beehner, a headline-making football star from the Syracuse Orangemen, was well-suited for a career in the Marine Corps.
With Able Company:
Kenneth Beehner served briefly as an officer in Able Company. He was transferred to Baker Company in December, 1943.
With Baker Company:
Lieutenant Beehner became a platoon leader in Baker Company, and served with them during the battle of Namur. He was transferred to the battalion's Headquarters Company in the spring of 1944.
With HQ Company:
Beehner led a platoon of the Headquarters Company - possibly the mortar platoon - into action on Saipan. He was slightly wounded in the ankle in June, but refused to be evacuated. On July 6, though, he was hit badly in the hip and was removed from combat.
The Syracuse Herald-Journal ran the following article on July 28, 1944.
Lieutenant Beehner returned to duty in the fall of 1944; he went on to serve through the battle of Iwo Jima, escaping further injury.
Kenneth Beehner retired from the Marine Corps as a colonel. He resides in South Florida with his wife, Shirley.