Robert S. Kennemore

He absorbed a grenade blast to protect his machine-gun squad

Robert Sidney Kennemore grew up in South Carolina and worked for Montgomery Ward in Chicago before enlisting in the Marine Corps on 20 June 1940. He trained at San Diego and served in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi campaign during the Second World War. After further assignments in the United States, he returned to the Pacific in 1945 and performed occupation duty in Japan. In 1950, he deployed to Korea with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines.

Kennemore earned the Medal of Honor north of Yudam-ni, Korea, on November 27, 1950. A staff sergeant in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, he assumed command when his platoon commander was seriously wounded during a night attack.

Kennemore reorganized the Marines and helped consolidate their position. When a grenade landed among a machine-gun squad, he placed his foot over it and absorbed the explosion, protecting the other men. He survived but lost both legs. Evacuated to the United States in December 1950, he spent almost a year in hospital before retiring on 31 October 1951.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, on June 21, 1920, Kennemore received the medal from President Harry S. Truman on November 24, 1952. He died in Oxnard, California, on April 26, 1989, and is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a machine-gun section in Company E, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With the company's defensive perimeter overrun by a numerically superior hostile force during a savage night attack north of Yudam-ni and his platoon commander seriously wounded, S/Sgt. Kennemore unhesitatingly assumed command, quickly reorganized the unit and directed the men in consolidating the position. When an enemy grenade landed in the midst of a machine-gun squad, he bravely placed his foot on the missile and, in the face of almost certain death, personally absorbed the full force of the explosion to prevent injury to his fellow marines. By his indomitable courage, outstanding leadership, and selfless efforts in behalf of his comrades, S/Sgt. Kennemore was greatly instrumental in driving the enemy from the area and upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.