Their Story
Duncan Putnam Kendall was born on August 19, 1925, in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Othel and Mary D. (Putnam) Kendall.[1] His father was a mechanical engineer with an agriculture implement company.[2] Duncan’s great grandfather was Charles Putnam, a pioneer settler in Davenport.[3] He is the great great grandson of the Hon. Joseph Duncan, sixth governor of Illinois. He also traces his ancestry back to Gen. Israel Putnam, a famed Revolutionary War hero.
In 1937, the family took a 23-day motor trip of 4,500 miles, visiting Canada, and New England, including Cape Cod. It was in Philadelphia that Duncan celebrated his 12th birthday.[4]
He attended Davenport High School but graduated from Western High School in Washington, D.C., in February 1946,[5] where he was captain of the Officer’s Club (Cadet Corps).[6] He collected firearms and wanted to be a mechanical engineer, go to college, or serve in the Merchant Marines.[7] Duncan’s father was stationed in Washington D.C. at this time of his graduation..
Duncan served our country in the Army Air Force during World War II. He entered the service on
September 6, 1945. He completed basic training at Ft. McClellan, near Anniston, Alabama. After training, he was stationed with the Caribbean Defense Command in the Panama Canal Zone at France Field.[8] It appears that Duncan suffered from malaria and was sent to recover in an Army Air Force Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, and at Walter Reed General Hospitals.
Duncan’s father, Othel Kendall, also served during WWII, from 1941 – 1946. He was a major in the Army and also participated in the Mexican Border War. While Othel was stationed at Camp Forrest, Tullahoma, Tennessee, Duncan attended Baylor Military school in Chattanooga.[9] Othel Kendell is also buried at the Rock Island National Cemetery.[10]
Duncan came home to Davenport on October 29, 1946, on a furlough. At the end of his furlough Cpl. Kendall reported for duty with the Second Army in one of the eastern states. Second Army’s mission was training U.S. troops. In June 1946, Second Army moved its headquarters to Baltimore, Maryland, and encompassed the seven states of Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.[11]
In 1947, Duncan was elected to membership in the Equality-Walter Reed Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.[12]
Duncan was united in marriage to Mary Barbara Serena on September 4, 1948, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. They were married 64 years. Duncan worked in the engineering department at ALCOA for over 36 years, retiring in 1988, as a design engineer/drafter.[13]
Duncan was a sweet and gentle man. His family was everything to him and he was most comfortable when they surrounded him, especially all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately call him Poppy. His daughter Mary shared a story about a time when he was in his 90s of finding him playing on the floor with his great grandson. Duncan was a member of the Masons for 63 years, joining in 1955.
Duncan was united in marriage to Mary Barbara Serena on September 4, 1948, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. They were married 64 years. Duncan worked in the engineering department at ALCOA for over 36 years, retiring in 1988, as a design engineer/drafter.[14]
Duncan was a sweet and gentle man. His family was everything to him and he was most comfortable when they surrounded him, especially all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately call him “Poppy”. His daughter Mary shared a story about a time when he was in his 90s, finding him playing on the floor with his great-grandson. Duncan was a member of the Masons for 63 years, joining in 1955.
In 1947, Duncan was elected to membership in the Equality-Walter Reed Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.[15]
Duncan was united in marriage to Mary Barbara Serena on September 4, 1948, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. They were married 64 years. Duncan worked in the engineering department at ALCOA for over 36 years, retiring in 1988, as a design engineer/draftsman.[16]
Duncan P. Kendall passed away, at 92, on February 22, 2018, and is interned at Rock Island National Cemetery.
[1] Duncan Putnam Kendall (1925-2018) – Find a Grave Memorial
[2] Ancestry.com – 1930 United States Federal Census
[3] 24 Jul 1948, 6 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[4] 23 Aug 1937, 4 – Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com
[5] 01 Feb 1946, 23 – Evening Star at Newspapers.com
[6] Ancestry.com – U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016
[7] 31 Jul 1943, 6 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[8] 24 Jul 1948, 6 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[9] 31 Jul 1943, 6 – The Daily Times at Newspapers.com
[10] Othel E Kendall – Facts (ancestry.com)
[11] Second United States Army – Wikipedia
[12] 11 May 1947, 60 – Evening Star at Newspapers.com
[13] 03 Aug 1989, 12 – Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com
[14] 03 Aug 1989, 12 – Quad-City Times at Newspapers.com