Rear Admiral Marvin Granville Kennedy
September 12, 1905 - February 9, 1997

Marvin Granville Kennedy was born in Huntsville, Missouri on September 12, 1905, son of Marvin G. and Erma McCrary (Forster) Kennedy.  He attended Henrietta High School before his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy from his native state in 1925.  As a Midshipman he played varsity soccer, winning his NA award and varsity lacrosse, receiving his numerals.  He was graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 8, 1930.

Following graduation he joined the USS IDAHO and in 1931 received a commendatory letter in connection with the IDAHO's winning the Battle Efficiency Pennant that year.  Detached from that battleship in January 1932, he was then ordered to the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut for submarine training.  Upon completing the course in June 1932, he had successive service in the submarines S-35, S-34 and S-45 until June 1936.  He was aboard the S-34 when she was awarded the Torpedo "E" for the years 1934-1935 and 1935-1936.

Returning to the United States he attended the course in general line at the Postgraduate School, Annapolis, Maryland, after which he had duty afloat from July 1938 in the USS CHICAGO.  Detached from that cruiser in March 1939, he then assisted in the fitting out of the USS HAMMANN at the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey.  He joined her as Engineer Officer upon her commissioning, August 11, 1939 and in March 1941 transferred to the USS NARWHAL to serve as her Executive Officer until March 1942.

He was in charge of fitting out the USS WAHOO at the Mare Island Navy Yard and assumed command of that submarine upon her commissioning on May 15, 1942.  He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his actions while in command of that submarine during her Second War Patrol.

Relieved of command of the WAHOO in December 1942, he joined the staff of Commander Service Force, Southwest Pacific.  From April 1943 to April 1944 he served as Repair Officer in the USS BUSHNELL.  He then was given command of the USS GUEST and earned a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Silver Star Medal for his actions during operations off Guam, the Palau Islands and during the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

Returning to the United States in August 1945, he reported as Professor of Naval Science at the University of South Carolina at Columbia with additional duty as Commanding Officer of the V-12 and ROTC units there as well as the V-12 units at the Medical College of the University of South Carolina.  He remained there until the summer of 1948 when he became Commander Destroyer Division 122.

During 1949 and 1950 he was Recorder, Board of Inspection and Survey, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D.C.  He continued to serve in that capacity until August 1950 when he was assigned duty as Senior Engineer Member, Board of Inspection and Survey, Pacific Coast Section, with headquarters at San Francisco, California.  In December, 1951 he joined the staff of the Commandant, Twelfth Naval District, also at San Francisco.  Captain Kennedy continued to serve in that assignment until he was transferred to the Retired List of the U.S. Navy and advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral on the basis of combat awards on October 1, 1952.

In addition to the Silver Star Medal and Gold Star, Rear Admiral Kennedy received the American Defense Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.

Rear Admiral Kennedy died on February 9, 1997 at the age of 91.