Project 888
Name: F. J. Patrick KENNY
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second ClassService #: 314 76 90 DOB: Mar 17, 1927 From: Detroit, MI Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kenny Went Aboard: May 12, 1945 Age When Ship Went Down: 18 years, 4 months, 13 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Ron Stavale (Nephew) and Carl Fahnestock (Admin) |
 KENNY, F. J. P |
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Seaman Second Class Kenny’s full name has been recorded and published in several ways:
1. In a IWM (Indiana War Memorial) museum facebook bio posting from 2015, Kenny’s “Legal” name was recorded as: FRANCIS J. P. Kenny.
2. In a USS Indianapolis facebook posting dated August 1, 2020 by Niece Karen Kenny Dei (see posted photo below left) a cenotaph (gravestone memorial) has been created in memory of: F J Patrick Kenny.
3. In the 75th Commemorative Book third edition dated 2022, by Sara Vladic and Jane Gwinn Goodall, Kenny’s name was recorded as: F. Patrick Kenny.
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 The Project888.org team has decided to post his name on this website as: F. J. Patrick Kenny for the following reasons:
1. Multiple references from Kenny’s family affectionately refer to him as: Pat or Uncle Pat.
2. A physical cenotaph (gravestone memorial) created by his family bears his name as: F J Patrick Kenny.
3. The order of the first letter of each name (FJPK) matches both the referenced “Legal” name and the cenotaph.
The following biography was published in the 2015 IWM facebook posting:
Francis J. P Kenny was born March 17, 1927 and boarded Indianapolis May 12, 1945 at the age of 18.
Pat was the 10th of 13 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kenny, living in Detroit, Michigan. Pat's legal name was Francis J.P. Kenny, much to the surprise of his siblings who always knew him as just "Pat".
When information went out about the Indy sinking, two of Pat's brothers (one on a transport in the Army, the other in the Coast Guard) heard the news and tried to find out Pat's fate. They knew about his loss before the family had been notified.
The week the family received the first telegram which stated that Pat was "Missing at Sea" - was the week that the war had ended and people were celebrating V-J Day around the country and the world. A neighbor was having a bonfire to celebrate the return of their son as the Kennys were praying their son would be found.
At the dedication of USS Indianapolis Memorial in 1995 for the 50th anniversary of the sinking, six of Pat's siblings were in attendance, finally finding some closure.
In 2012 a cenotaph (memorial gravestone) was placed at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan honoring Pat’s service and sacrifice for our nation.
The following biographical text was submitted by Kenny’s nephew (Ron Stavale):
My Uncle Pat was killed when the USS Indianapolis sank in the Pacific in July 1945.
We never knew where Pat was on the ship at the time of the disaster or whether he survived the initial hit. There are hundreds of other families with the same situation.
I have been to the memorial in Indianapolis and it is very moving. Over the years, I have spoken to a few survivors but they were not able to give me much information about our Uncle Pat.
I know that the sailors hesitate to speak about how some of their brothers died out in that sea of death but any information about the location of our uncle would bring closure for us regarding his death. Uncle Pat has three siblings yet alive.
I hope that you would consider this request and perhaps even make it a general topic of the location of the various sailors when the ship was hit and perhaps provide a cartoon/drawing/dramatization re-enactment of the sinking. In that way you could bring some solace to the hundreds of families who lost loved ones during those horrific days.
The sinking of the USS Indianapolis was such a historic tragedy and as the next few years go by then all of the witnesses of those horrible days will be gone forever.
In honor of their lives and their courage, I hope you can consider this request.
What follows in this bio text is Project888.org’s submission of information and associated links which are intended as a response to LAS family requests such as Nephew Ron Stavale’s request.
The above passionate request from Mr. Stavale presents a common request that has been shared by other LAS family and friends over the years since the 1945 sinking.
In fact, requests like Ron’s were presented in multiple letters that were sent to Captain Charles B. McVay in the early months following the July 30, 1945 sinking of USS Indianapolis (CA-35).
Please click on the following link (McVay's Letters) to access and read multiple letters that were sent to Capt. McVay along with his personal response to each letter.
Additionally, please click on the following link to the Article (Unanswerable Questions) to see an analysis about why questions like Ron Stavale’s and others were and will unfortunately continue to be “Unanswerable”!
MICHIGAN MEMORIAL PLAQUE
See photographs (posted below) to view a copy of a memorial plaque that was dedicated circa 1946 to honor seventy-two (72) State of Michigan men who served on USS Indianapolis CA-35 and who were Lost At Sea.
F.J. Patrick KENNY's name is listed on the plaque!
Per the caption on one of the photos, the plaque was originally planned in 1946 for display at a proposed Detroit Civic Center. The plaque was initially displayed at the Detroit Naval Post VFW #233. However, the plaque had vanished for decades, fueling rumors of theft, being melted for scrap, or hidden away in a private basement.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Jeff Ortiz (nephew of LAS Y3 Orlando Ortiz) and Joni Deaver (cousin of LAS sailor S2c Charles Roof Jr.), this priceless piece of history has been re-discovered in the Detroit Historical Society storage basement in Michigan.
One of the photos shows Jeff Ortiz and Ralph McNabb (nephew of LAS F2 Thomas McNabb, Jr) standing behind the very dusty plaque as it was found.
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