Private Norman C. Kendall, United States Army. Service Number: 19186113

Early Life

Norman C. Kendall was born on 5 August 1924 in San Leandro, California. His father, Victor V. Kendall, born 29 September 1895 in Pennsylvania, died 22 January 1985 in Alameda County, California was a Carpenter. His mother, Anna Julia Coblenzer was born 21 November 1901 in California and died 27 October 1980 in Alameda County, California. Norman was the second of three children in his family. He had an older brother and a younger sister.

Military

Norman C. Kendall enlisted in the Army on 25 November 1942 in San Francisco, California. At that time, he had completed four years of high school. After basic training and follow-on training, he was assigned to the 29th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized), 29th Infantry Division.

The first platoon, 29th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troops Mecs. attached to the 116th Infantry Combat Team landed on Omaha Beaches 6 June 1944, 0800 hours (D-Day, H plus 30). It was divided into seven groups and operated a Commanding General’s Radio Voice Net reporting the advances, locations, and resistances met by the assault companies. This was operated until 0200, D plus 1 at which time the platoon started reorganizing.

The 29th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop Mecs. less one platoon landed on Omaha Beach D plus 2 at 1630 hours proceeding to transit area, at Vierville sur Mer and was joined by the 1st platoon.

Death

Norman C. Kendall was Killed in Action on 6 June 1944 on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France during the D-Day invasion. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal and was buried at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France, Plot: G, Row: 27, Grave: 8.

Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56646321/norman-c-kendall

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=340426

https://www.fold3.com/page/85060099/norman-c-kendall/facts

https://www.fold3.com/page/639633915/norman-c-kendall/facts

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=5247&h=1127178&tid=&pid=&queryId=9e1a0cd463c3c96524b28b8f941a78d5&usePUB=true&_phsrc=5ru214680&_phstart=successSource

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=8939&h=6571009&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=2442

https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/battle-of-normandy/after-action-reports/29th-infantry/cavalry-recon

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