John P. Kilkenney, Jr.
Date of Birth: November 5, 1922
Place of Birth: Missouri
Father and Mother’s Names: James and Margaret Kilkenny, Sr.
Date Entered Service: TBD
Service Branch: Army
Service Number: 0551265
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Division/Company/Unit info: Delta Company, 424th Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division.
Riley Connection: The 1940 U.S. Census shows the Kilkenny family living at 925 Osage St. in Manhattan, KS. Military headstone application shows his father living at 1611 Laramie St. in Manhattan.
Date of Death (and Age): December 23, 1944 (age 22)
Place of Death: In Germany during the Battle of the Bulge. Second Lieutenant Kilkenny was captured and became a POW at Stalag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn Hessen-Nassau, Prussia 50-08. Records show he was either executed or shot while attempting to escape.
Grave Location: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas.
Bio: John lived with his family in Manhattan and attended Kansas State College, where he was a general science major. He joined the Army and was sent to Europe, where he served in the opening days of the Battle of the Bulge.
The 106th Infantry Division was comprised of largely inexperienced men who were replacing the veteran 2nd Infantry Division on the front lines. The supplies of winter clothes and ammunition that the 106th had were described as well below adequate. German forces were able to penetrate between the 423rd and 424th Infantry regiments, putting the regiments in jeopardy. The men held their positions and believed that more men were on their way and supplies would be airdropped. The arrival of more men proved to be optimistic, and new orders were for the divisions to attack and break out, but the orders were given too late and without the aid of airdrops. Two-thirds of the 106th were captured by German forces. Second Lieutenant Kilkenny was captured and was a POW at Stalag 12A to 9B Limburg An Der Lahn Hessen-Nassau, Prussia 50-08. Records show he was either executed or shot while attempting to escape.
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