Surnames: Kennedy, Gehin, Polley, Griffiths, Jenks, Berger, Genrich, Thompson, Tauchen, Browe, Jensen, Wigstad, Malchow, Gust, Allard

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 01/14/1943

Kennedy, Allard Robert (11 Apr. 1918 - 14 Dec. 1942)

A War Department telegram, received here Tuesday morning by Mrs. Allard Kennedy, contained the grim message that Sergeant Kennedy, who was previously reported missing in action, had been killed in the defense of his country, Dec. 14, 1942.

Allard Robert Kennedy was born April 11, 1918, in Ontario, Wis. He came to here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Kennedy, in the fall of 1921 and grew to manhood in here, having attended the Abbotsford schools. He was graduated from the high school with the class of 1936.

After attending Sterling College in Kansas for a year, he was employed at South Havens, Mich., and also at Stetsonville as a meat cutter.

For several years he was a member of the Wisconsin National Guard, 121st F.A. Before leaving for Michigan, he received his honorable discharge from the guards.

While in the employ of the Oscar Mayer Packing Co. in Madison, Allard was inducted into the United States army and was sent to Camp Livingston, where he was a member of the 128th infantry. At this camp he received the rank of corporal while he was assistant company clerk in an antitank company.

On March 29, 1941, he and Miss Elsie Gehin of Madison were married at Dubuque, Ia.

When Corporal Kennedy was transferred to Fort Devons, Mass., in February, 1942, Mrs. Kennedy accompanied him and remained there until he was transferred to Fort Ord, Calif. The transfer occurred on April 11, his birthday anniversary.

At the request of General Douglas MacArthur for the 32nd division, of which he had been a member, this division sailed for Australia.

After some commando training in Australia, Allard was transferred to the Cannon company and was made company clerk and received a promotion to sergeant. Some time in August Sergeant Kennedy was sent to New Guinea and the official telegram stated the casualty occurred in the southwest Pacific area.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Elsie Kennedy; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Kennedy, Abbotsford; one sister, June, of St. Paul; and one brother, Private Richard Kennedy, who is attending officers’ training school at Fort Benning, Ga.

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 01/21/1943

A memorial service for Sergeant Allard Kennedy, reported killed in action, Dec. 14, in the southwest Pacific area, will be held Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 27, at 2:30 in the Presbyterian church.

Sergeant Kennedy was a member of the Presbyterian congregation of Abbotsford, Wis.

The service will be conducted by the Rev. Charles Polley of the Bible Fellowship church of Madison, which church Sergeant and Mrs. Kennedy both attended while they resided in Madison.

The Rev. Mr. Polley, a veteran of World War I, was a personal friend and through correspondence, kept in touch with Sergeant Kennedy during the time he was in the service of his country.

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 01/28/1943

Friends in numbers which filled the Presbyterian church to capacity, attended the memorial service for Sgt. Allard Kennedy, reported killed in action in New Guinea, last Dec. 14, Wednesday afternoon.

The services opened with a prayer by the Rev. George Griffiths, pastor of the church. The Rev. Charles Robert Polley, of the Bible Fellowship church of Madison, which church Sgt. and Mrs. Kennedy attended before his entrance in the service, gave the address.

Merle Jenks, who was a class mate of Sgt. Kennedy, when they graduated from the Abbotsford high school, sang three hymns, accompanied at the piano by Mrs. W. R. Berger. The selections were: "The Old Rugged Cross," "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," and "I Love To Tell the Story."

The American Legion Charles F. Hanson Post No. 139 was present with the colors and color guard. Representing the post were Otto Genrich, commander; Maurice Thompson, vice commander; William Tauchen, service officer; Rev. R. H. Browe, chaplain; Lee Jensen, William Wigstad, Ben Wigstad, William Malchow, Tom Wigstad and Carl Gust.

Relatives from away who were here for the services included Miss June Kennedy, St. Paul; Mrs. A. J. Allard, Greenwood and Bernard Kennedy, La Valle.