PVT Benjamin Franklin McKenney

his cenotaph courtesy of KSDocent

PVT Benjamin Franklin McKenney was born in 1921 in Cloud County, Kansas. He was the youngest of 2 sons born to A. C. and Bessie May (Brooks) McKenney. His father died before 1925. His mother re-married and step-father, Franklin Elias Dungan, was a drayman for a lumber company in Concordia, Kansas.

Benjamin voluntarily enlisted in April 1942. After training he was sent to England and assigned to H Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault on the French coast that would be part of the invasion of occupied Europe. It was in that effort that PVT McKenney was killed in action on 6 Jun 1944.

PVT McKenney rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery. There is also a cenotaph in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia, Kansas.

Benjamin's brother, 2LT Ezra McKenney was captured 9 Apr 1941 while serving with 91st Bomber Squadron 27th Bomber Group and died in a POW camp 7 Sep 1944.