GUNNERY SERGEANT KENNETH BRUCE KEMMEY, U.S.M.C. Enlisted October 19, 1940. Dallas, Texas. Killed in Action, March 4, 1945 at Iwo Jima.

In the fall of 1940, the autumn leaves were shining in all their luster. The trees were in the process of taking their rest for the winter months ahead. The air had a certain crispness about it that made you want to do something.

I had been working for the Harris Cream Top Milk Company for about three years. I drove a special delivery truck for them. I enjoyed my work, but for some reason I felt restless. I needed a change. Little Kenneth, Ma's youngest son, who was only seventeen at the time, wanted to join the Marines. Being only seventeen, he could not join unless his mother signed his enlistment papers. Well, the war situation was not looking too good over in Europe. Hitler was on a rampage. It seemed as though it was only a matter of time and the United. States would be drawn into the conflict. Ma told Little Kenneth that if I would join the Marines with him, she would sign his enlistment papers. Up to this time, I hadn't given the military service too much thought. Little Kenneth began to plead with me to join the Marines with him so his mother would sign his papers, As I pondered the matter in my mind, I reasoned that it was only a matter of time and I would have to go anyway. I was twenty two years old and would soon be twenty three on November 4th.

In the meantime, Little Kenneth never let up. He continued to plead with me to join the Marines with him. The time of the year and things being as they were, Little Kenneth finally persuaded me to join the Marines with him. Since I agreed, then his mother kept her word and signed his papers so he could enlist.

In the early part of October we went down town in Houston to the old Federal Building to talk to the recruiting officer of the Marines. There were a few preliminary things to sign along with a few questions we wanted answered. Being well adepted with their assignment, the answers all sounded very adventuress and exciting

So, the next step was to take a preliminary physical examination to see if there was anything serious enough wrong with us to eliminate us then and there. There wasn't a thing physically wrong with either one of us. So, the recruiting officer told us to get things in readiness, say our good byes and be at the Union Station on the morning of October 17, 1940 to go to Dallas to take a more strenuous physical and also be sworn in as United States Marines. Dallas, at that time, was the main regional recruiting office for a great portion of the South Central States.

I will have to concede, Little Kenneth and I were beginning to get nervous as the time of our departure was drawing nigh. the evening of October 17, 1940, we boarded the Texas Rocket to Dallas. Boy, it was some train! -- stream lined, and even had a pretty girl hostess to see that we were comfortable. Little Ken and I needed something other than a pretty girl to relax us. We realized there was no turning back, unless we failed our final physical.

We arrived in Dallas around 10:00 P. M. and went to the hotel' which we had previously been instructed to check in to. Of course, the marine recruiting officer in Houston gave us all the necessary documents that we needed to identify ourselves when we arrived in Dallas. These documents would entitle us to lodging and for our meals while we were in Dallas.

I was a few years older than Little Kenneth and was able to realize and understand more vividly what the whole thing was all about. I was able to relax and take things as they came more so than he did. This was really his first venture away from home without some one else being responsible. Believe me, it does make a difference!

We slept in our hotel that night and were to report to the recruiting office early the next morning. Needless to say, it was not like home.

On October 18, 1940, we arose, had breakfast and proceeded to the recruiting office for our final tests. On our arrival, we discovered we were not alone. Boys from all over were showing up for the big examination. Everything was routine. First they checked to make sure you are who you say you are. Then they had us remove all our clothing, including our shoes and _socks, and the physical started. Believe me, those Navy doctors knew their jobs. I don't believe there was any function of the human body they did not check. On top of all that, they shot questions at us regarding our physical past. My only problem was heighth and weight. I smoked at the time, and, of course, that never helped my weight any. However, I weighed in at 136 pounds. The doctor said if I were two pounds lighter, I would be rejected. Any man weighing less than 135 pounds would be turned down. He said I was rather short, but since I was in such good physical condition, he saw no reason to reject me. Little Kenneth was physically O. K. to the exception of his blood pressure. The doctor told him it was a little above normal for a young man of his age. However, the doctor, from previous experience, suspected Little Kenneth was probably just excited and told him to go back to his hotel and come back the next morning for another shot at it. He instructed him to take two aspirins right before he came up to the office.

So, Ken returned to the hotel and I lined up with the rest of the group, and a marine officer swore us in and said, "From this time forward you are now UNITED STATES MARINES." Although I was a little nervous as well as curious and cautious, there was something about becoming a Marine that gave me a feeling of pride and respect.

This was October 18, 1940. We boarded a train out of Dallas for a long journey to San Diego, California. On our arrival there we were taken directly to the receiving barracks at the Marine Base. Unfortunately, we arrived there about 10:00 P. M. It was a miserable night, and the N. C. O. (Non-commissioned Officer) on duty saw to it that I was miserable. Every hour on the hour the N. C. O. would step inside the barracks,.blow his whistle and tell us to hit the deck. As tired and weary as we were, believe me, we hit the deck (floor). Although, at the time, we were not aware of it, that first hecktic night was the beginning of our training to become men of the United States Marine Corps.

If there was one thing I learned in the Marine Corps, it was discipline. It wasn't too hard for me, because I was raised to respect my superiors as I grew up from a child. However, it never eased the misery one bit.

The next morning at 5:00 o'clock we had to fall in outside the receiving barracks and listen to a sergeant who evidently must have eaten nails for his breakfast. He made us feel about like two cents. Really, I felt worse than that after such a miserable night. Nevertheless, we listened and listened good, or at least I did. I was afraid to do anything to the contrary.

Well, after the miserable welcome, we spent the day making preparations for our recruit platoon -- the one we would stay with for seven weeks.

On the morning of the next day, which was October 20, 1940, lo and behold if another group didn't join us, and there among them was Ken. Later he told me he passed his physical the next day in Dallas with flying colors. I always kidded him about being senior to him in the Marine Corps, since he was sworn in on October 19, 1940–a day later than I. However. We managed to be in Platoon 140 together. We had three well qualified duty instructors (DI's), and from our first day in boot camp until we graduated, these three men molded out of boys from all states and all walks of life, one of the finest platoons to ever be released from boot camp. It wasn't easy, but believe me, when they got through with us, our senior duty instructor said he was proud to call us men.

Boot training, at that time, consisted of four weeks of basic training, two weeks on the rifle range, which consisted of a week of snapping in, that is limbering up and learning how to fire our 1903 Springfield rifles, and the service 45 Automatic pistol. Ken made expert on record day which payed him $5.00 a month extra for a year. I fired sharpshooter, which paid me $3.00 a month extra for a year. The men that made marksman became qualified riflemen, but no extra compensation.

Of course, there are a number of facets of training that we learned in boot camp, such as, bayonet, close order drill, weapons and discipline--things that would' follow us in our mind the rest of our four year cruise or however long we stayed in the Marine Corps.

After seven weeks of the hardest, most grueling training a young man could endure, we finally graduated and became full fledged Marines. My, how good it made us feel! Here I am a real live United States Marine! And so we were disbanded and sent to various Companies in the 6th Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division, which at the time was there at the Marine Base in San Diego.