James E. Kennedy

Staff Sergeant James E. Kennedy was born on January 2, 1950, in Woodbury, NJ. His home of record was Pine Hill, NJ.

He entered the US Army where he was assigned to the 57th Aviation Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Kennedy has been listed as Missing in Action since December 22, 1969.

On December 22, 1969, SP4 James E. Kennedy (door gunner), WO Donald D. Burris Jr. (pilot), WO John H. Hunsicker (aircraft commander), and SP5 Timothy A. Purser (crew chief) were the crew of a UH-1C “Iroquois” helicopter on a combat support mission when it developed mechanical problems and crash landed.

Official records differ as to the location of the crash. US Army casualty and Joint Casualty Resolution Center records indicate that the crash was in Cambodia, yet Defense Department, State Department and other records indicate that the crash occurred near the border of Attopeu and Saravane Provinces in Laos, some 30–35 miles north of the closest point in Cambodia.

When the aircraft landed, Burris, Purser, and Hunsicker had survived the crash, but they could not locate James Kennedy. A search of the general area revealed no trace of SP4 Kennedy and he was not trapped in the wreckage. As door gunner, positioned at an open door on the side of the main cargo area, Kennedy may have decided to bail out of the descending aircraft, or may have fallen.

Minutes after the helicopter crashed, a recovery helicopter arrived in the area and lowered ropes with McGuire rigs attached through the dense jungle to the downed men. The survivors were not trained in the proper use of this equipment, and SP5 Purser fell out of his rig a few feet off the ground. WO Burris and WO Hunsicker remained in their rigs and were lifted out. Five minutes into the flight, Burris lost his grip on the rope and fell from an altitude of 2,500–3,000 feet. The rescue helicopter continued to the nearest landing area.

A search and rescue team was inserted into the crash site area and recovered Purser, who was injured. The team searched widely for SP4 Kennedy, but found no trace of him, and concluded their search on December 25, 1969.

James E. Kennedy is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 15W, Line 81.

By early 1967, the Bell UH-1 Iroquois was already the standard Army assault helicopter, and was used in nearly every “in-country” mission. Better known by its nickname “Huey,” the troop carriers were referred to as “slicks” and the gunships were called “Hogs.” It proved itself to be a sturdy, versatile aircraft called on to carry out a wide variety of missions including search and rescue, close air support, insertion and extraction, fire support, and resupply. It usually carried a crew of four.

On 22 December 1969, WO John H. Hunsicker (aircraft commander), WO Donald D. Burris Jr. (pilot), SP5 Timothy A. Purser (crew chief), and SP4 James E. Kennedy (door gunner) comprised the crew of a UH-1C helicopter (tail #66-00587). The Huey was conducting a combat support mission in Cambodia when it developed mechanical problems. WO Hunsicker and WO Burris first attempted to nurse their crippled aircraft eastward toward the South Vietnamese border. When it became apparent it was no longer flyable, the air crew made an emergency Mayday call giving their location, then crash landed in the heavily forested mountains of extreme eastern Cambodia.

John Hunsicker and Donald Burris escaped through the left cargo door uninjured. They found Timothy Purser outside the aircraft with a broken arm. They looked for James Kennedy in the downed helicopter and the area immediately surrounding the aircraft wreckage, but could find no trace of him. Because the door gunner’s position is located to one side of the main cargo compartment by an open door, they thought it possible he might have decided to jump from the descending aircraft as it gyrated to the ground, or he may have fallen out of it.

Another SAR team was inserted into the crash site a short time later to rescue SP5 Purser. The team also searched a 200-meter radius around the downed Huey for SP4 Kennedy, but again found no sign of him. The full SAR operation was initiated for the missing pilot and door gunner, but was discontinued on 25 December with negative results. At the time the formal search was terminated, James Kennedy was declared Missing in Action.

Since the end of the Vietnam War, well over 21,000 reports of American prisoners, missing and otherwise unaccounted for have been received by our government. Many of these reports document live American prisoners of war remaining captive throughout Southeast Asia.

Jimmy, a few days late but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! You are missed. TK

— Tom Kennedy, Chesapeake, VA (Cousin) — January 5, 2009

ALWAYS REMEMBER — ALWAYS LOVED

Jim — You have never been forgotten. There is not a day in the life of your mother and father (who are now deceased), your brother, your aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, that you are not thought of.

On that day, when we received the call from your father that you had been shot down in the helicopter and went missing, the hearts of all were broken, never to be mended. There is always hope in our hearts that some day we will receive news of your fate, whether it be happy or sad — just to know that you are in God’s Kingdom and at peace would be enough for us.

Tears come and go — loving memories are forever!

— Your Cousin Alice (Alice Hinderliter) — March 8, 2007

My Cousin, My Hero

Jimmy was my first cousin and best of friend. We went to school together (he was a year older than I), and grew up in the same town. (There were four cousins all around the same age that called ourselves the kissin’ cousins — Joey, Jimmy, Betty & Elaine.) I cannot tell you how I miss him. He is always on my mind. I just had mementos out a couple of days, looking at them. I think the not knowing is so cruel. You can never have that closure that is needed. He was such a great guy; handsome, kind and always a gentleman. I miss him still! I love you always, Jimmy.

— Love, Elaine (Elaine Ratliff, Cousin, Lindenwold, NJ) — March 8, 2007

I have your bracelet…

I didn’t know you, but I have looked at your name for the last 18 years on my wrist. The bracelet has become part of me. I never take it off… If Jim’s family would like it please comment at the bottom of the page so I can get it to you. I would be honored to do that for your family, Jim. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice you made for your country…

— Debbie Quantmeyer — September 13, 2006

Just a memory

I went to school and played in a wedding band with this man’s younger brother, Phil! When I visited this site I decided to see if anything more had ever been discovered concerning James. The empty links and entries made me feel as though someone had to do or say something. I remember having the same feeling when I went to his home in Pine Hill for a band rehearsal in 1974 and his brother pointed out the car waiting for James’ then anticipated return… at the time they only knew he was MIA… I guess that never changed. None the less, almost 30 years have passed since I saw the empty, dusty car in the garage. I didn’t want to leave this link the same way. God Bless and be with you, James. And thank you for your service!

— Bob Mumie (his younger brother’s friend, Lindenwold, NJ) — May 27, 2002

LOST BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

I REMEMBER WATCHING JIM PLAY BASKETBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST. HE WAS 3 YEARS AHEAD OF ME IN SCHOOL, BUT HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO BY THE UNDERCLASSMEN AND TEAMMATES. WHEN HE GRADUATED HE AND HENRY BOYE WENT INTO THE SERVICE TOGETHER I BELIEVE, BUT I’M NOT SURE. HENRY WAS ALSO KILLED IN VIETNAM. JIM WILL ALWAYS BE LOVED AND MISSED BY ALL OF US THAT ATTENDED OVERBROOK REG. HIGH SCHOOL. RAMS ON THE RAMPAGE FOREVER. PEACE BROTHER.

— Robert Henderson (School Friend, Lindenwold, NJ) — July 25, 2002

My adopted MIA

SSGT James Kennedy, My name is Tyra Brown. I’m a 2006 Junior at Sam Houston High School in Arlington, TX. As part of a class assignment on Vietnam MIA’s, I learned your story and shared it with my classmates. I learned of your sacrifice and will remember you.

— Tyra Brown (Mr. Anderson’s History Student) — May 16, 2006