DAVID S. KENDRICK, LTJG, USN
David Kendrick '49
Lucky Bag
From the 1949 Lucky Bag:
David S. Kendrick
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dave, a proud Swede originally from that land of the sky blue waters, Minnesota, came to us through Bullis, with two appointments as a result of his scholastic ability. He could swing a tennis racquet almost before he could walk, and ever since has spent much time on the courts. At Navy, he turned to boxing, with fine results. When it came to drags, Dave believed in quality, not quantity; and heads turned as he and his lovely lassies stepped out under Dahlgren's soft lights. His ready wit, wisdom, and smile were always welcome at any gathering. Dave was always in the van, setting the example, and taking the consequences. We wish him luck—may he go far with his wings of gold.
David S. Kendrick
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dave, a proud Swede originally from that land of the sky blue waters, Minnesota, came to us through Bullis, with two appointments as a result of his scholastic ability. He could swing a tennis racquet almost before he could walk, and ever since has spent much time on the courts. At Navy, he turned to boxing, with fine results. When it came to drags, Dave believed in quality, not quantity; and heads turned as he and his lovely lassies stepped out under Dahlgren's soft lights. His ready wit, wisdom, and smile were always welcome at any gathering. Dave was always in the van, setting the example, and taking the consequences. We wish him luck—may he go far with his wings of gold.
Loss
David was lost on June 13, 1952 when his aircraft crashed near Naval Outlying Field Barin near Foley, Alabama. (Details from Gregg Overbeck of "Heroes of the US Naval Academy".) The article says the crash was offshore, and implies his body was not recovered. It also says he was completing his training, and had previously served in Korea.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
David married Patricia Hawkins at the Naval Academy the day he graduated.
His parents were James A. S. Kvam, a supervisor in state government and his mother Olga was a nurse. His sister was Audrey, and his stepsister was Ann. In 1930, his father David was an undertaker who served as a quartermaster in the Naval Reserve 1918-1921. He died on March 11, 1942, and is buried in Mound Union Cemetery.
He is listed in the 1940 census living in Minneapolis with his mother, stepfather, sister, and step-sister.
From Heroes of the United States Naval Academy:
David Stanley Kendrick was born on May 30, 1927 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Mr. David Stanley Kendrick and Mrs. Olga Irene (Stone) Kendrick. Growing up in Farlington, Virginia, he graduated from Central High School in May 1944. In 1945, he attended Bullis Preparatory School located in Silver Spring, Maryland and nominated from Minnesota. On June 20, 1945, he entered the United Sates Naval Academy as a Midshipman. Midshipman Kendrick was a member of the 1st Company and was an accomplished boxer. Midshipman Kendrick graduated 289 of 790 Midshipmen on June 3, 1949.
On graduation day June 3, 1949, Ensign Kendrick married Miss Patricia Brevoort Smith at the Naval Academy St. Andrews Chapel in Annapolis Maryland. Together they had two sons David and Peter. Mrs. Kendrick remarried to Mr. Robert Lloyd Leonard.
From July 1949 to April 1951, Ensign Kendrick was assigned to ship’s crew on aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) in the Korean Theater.
In the July 1951 issue of Shipmate he was reported as having been best man in the wedding of his classmate, James A. Carmack, Jr.
The Alumni Association has a note about a son, Peter Kendrick from California, being 4 months old when his dad died. Peter is also noted to be a veteran of an unspecified military service.
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and his mother and stepfather. David's Find A Grave page is here.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
