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Decorated Marine humbled by sign dedicated to him
Marine Lt. Col. Brian Kennedy
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Marine Lt. Col. Brian Kennedy of Boardman will be featured with his picture on a Marine Corps billboard. He recently received athe Distinguished Flying Cross with “V” for valor in Iraq.
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Marine Lt. Col. Brian Kennedy
The Marine Hometown Hero Program billboards are going up around the country.
BOARDMAN — Marine Lt. Col. Brian Kennedy said he was an ordinary Marine serving in extraordinary circumstances as an attack helicopter pilot supporting extraordinary Marines on the ground who were often “nose to nose” with the enemy.
Kennedy, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross with “V” for Valor for his actions in Iraq in 2003, said he is humbled to be chosen by the Marine Corps to appear on one of its Hometown Hero Program billboards.
Similar billboards are going up around the country with the pictures of Marines who have distinguished themselves in combat situations, said Marine Capt. Jason Grimm of the 4th Marine Corps Recruiting District, which includes this area.
The dedication of the billboard featuring Kennedy, a 1984 graduate of Poland Seminary High School, was conducted Tuesday. Kennedy’s billboard, donated by Lamar Advertising, is at 685 Boardman-Canfield Road (U.S. Route 224) in the parking lot of Los Gallos Restaurant.
“We’re here for the Marine Corps today — not for myself — to put some young guys in uniform so guys like me can retire,” Kennedy said with a smile. He flies the AH-W1 Super Cobra attack helicopter.
In truth, Kennedy, who is 43 and has been in the service for 19 years, said he will stay in the Marine Corps until they push him out, or it’s no longer fun.
“I’ve never met a Marine who said he wished he had not been a Marine, and I don’t think I ever will,” he said.
Kennedy, the son of Bill and Margaret Kennedy of Canfield, recently completed an assignment at Marine Corps Headquarters at the Pentagon as the Corps’ air-to-ground weapons requirements officer. His next assignment is Camp Pendleton, Calif., as the executive officer of Marine Aircraft Group 39.
Tuesday’s dedication was attended by a number of Kennedy’s friends and family members, including some former teachers.
Milt Kochert, Kennedy’s high school American government teacher and a retired Naval Reserve captain, remembers Kennedy as an excellent and highly dedicated student who was very patriotic.
“He was a great kid with a great mom and dad,” said Cecil Duffett, retired Poland High School principal.
Kennedy’s father, when asked how proud he was, said: “I have no buttons left to pop off.”
alcorn@vindy.com