Mark Kenney

Mark M. Kenney VIRGINIA BEACH - Retired U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 4 Mark Myles Kenney passed away the morning of May 26, 2010 at the age of 81. He was a resident of Virginia Beach. Mr. Kenney was born in Chicago Jan. 18, 1929 and grew up in Joliet, Ill., where his father was warden of the Joliet Prison. He graduated from Lockport High School and enlisted in the Marine Corps on May, 17, 1948. He served his country honorably for 30 years. He was one of the first Marines to land in Pusan, Korea in 1950. Mr. Kenney was also a survivor of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, which is still used today as a motivating example of selfless bravery and endurance for U.S. troops in theatre around the world. As one of the remaining Chosin Few, Mr. Kenney was recently filmed as part of an inspirational message from the commandant of the Marine Corps to be delivered around the world. Mr. Kenney also served in the Vietnam War, where he earned a Purple Heart as well as the Bronze Star with the V device for valor, which was awarded for bravery in saving the lives of his men through his actions. Throughout his distinguished career as a Marine, Mr. Kenney earned dozens of other medals, citations and awards. A petroleum engineer, Mr. Kenney spent a decade after retirement helping the Saudi Arabian Navy and Saudi National Guard modernize their fuel processing and delivery systems. While there, he served as a civilian liaison to the U.S. military during the First Gulf War and as an advisor to the Pentagon during the Iran Hostage Crisis. In his last two decades, Mr. Kenney opened a family business with his wife and two sons, owning several Jackson Hewitt Tax Service franchises in Northern Virginia. Mr. Kenney was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and an active member of the Bulk Fuel Association, where he had just returned from a national reunion in Baton Rouge, La. At the time of his passing, he was also the vice president of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Chosin Few. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Thelma Bunch Kenney; son, Mark Myles Kenney II and daughter-in-law Lilla A. Kenney of The Plains, Va.; son, Michael Clifton Kenney of Centreville, Va.; daughter, Cynthia Kenney Link and son-in-law Ross-boy Link of Evanston, Ill.; grandson, Justin Myles Kenney, a film student at Columbia College in Chicago; granddaughter, Chelsea Sky Link, a cognitive science student at Harvard University; and three siblings: brother, Thomas W. Kenney of Pinehurst, N.C., and sisters, Agnes R. Stubler and Mabel Ann Plese of Joliet. He was preceded in death by his dear parents, Mabel Myles and Thomas W. Kenney Sr. and three sisters, Lorraine Kuchta, Frances Johnson and Alice Robustelli. Mr. Kenney's life will be celebrated with a Mass held at the Church of the Holy Family at 1279 N. Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 5. Family and friends are invited to a reception immediately afterwards at the family home. Flowers may be sent to H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, 2002 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. Also, donations can be made to the National Museum of the Marine Corps via the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation at 3800 Fettler Park Drive No. 104, Dumfries, VA 22025 or online at www. marineheritage.org. In keeping with Mr. Kenney's wishes, he will be interred in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. www.hdoliver.com.