World War II Honoree

James Kenneth Dunn

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Loveland, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Seaman Second Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy April 3, 1942 at Denver, Colorado, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Brownson Destroyer, DD-518 for duty as an on-the-job trainee. The Destroyer and her shipmates on December 26, 1943 were attacked by an Imperial Japanese Carrier Bomber, while she screened the Tank Landing Ships in support of the Cape Gloucester invasion. Despite the efforts of her anti-aircraft Gunners, the Pilot hit the Warship with two 550-pound, semi-armor piercing bombs, striking the number two stack. After the explosion the entire structure above the main deck, buckled and she went down with in minutes. Reported missing in action, lost at sea after the attack in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley, Philippine Islands. Later his missing in action status was amended to read killed in action December 27, 1944. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.