John’s love for his fellow man and his strong faith could not have been better demonstrated than on the day he died. While on patrol on August 16, 2006, the unit he was leading came under a well planned ambush. One of John’s men was hit almost immediately and lay in the street. With machine gun rounds and rocket propelled grenades landing, pinning them down from three directions, John ignored the pleas from his squad leaders to wait for additional forces and went to the fallen Marine’s side. As he began to drag the Marine to a covered position he was killed by a sniper’s bullet. The only personal item they found in his pockets that day was his favorite rosary beads.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity of action while under hostile fire during a combat patrol in Al Fallujah, Iraq, Captain John J. McKenna IV is enthusiastically recommended for the Silver Star Medal, to be awarded posthumously.