World War II Honoree

Kenneth Cornelius

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Honored By

Friend

HE WAS A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR, HAVING BEEN STATIONED ON THE USS TENNESSEE WHEN IT WAS ATTACKED IN HAWAII. THE TENNESSEE SURVIVED THE ATTACK AND SAILED TO BREMERTON, WASHINGTON FOR REPAIRS AND MODERNIZATION. AS A CREW MEMBER, HE LATER TOOK PART IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, TARAWA, KWAJALEIN, ENIWETOK, SAIPAN, TINIAN, GUAM, PELELIU, IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA. OFF OKINAWA THE TENNESSEE WAS HIT BY A KAMIKAZE PLANE. HE WAS ALSO PRESENT DURING THE NAVAL BATTLE OF THE SURIGAO STRAIT.