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We Honor and Remember:
Petty Officer Kenneth Aaron Smith
Hometown: Cherry Hill, New Jersey, U.S. Age: 22 years old. Died: August 21, 2017 in a Naval collision. Unit: Navy - USS John S. McCain (DDG 56). Born: January 27, 1995. Kenneth was a resident of Cherry Hill, New Jersey at the time of passing. He was 22. Smith, a 2013 graduate of Cherry Hill High School East, was born in Jackson, MI, and moved to Chesapeake, VA, when he was 10. Described by classmates and friends as adventurous and fun-loving, he wrote recently on social media, "My bucket list of things to do before I die is close to completion already. I've skydived, jumped headfirst from an 8 story tower, have seen virtual reality at its baby stages, and will soon be traveling to the other side of the world." Kenny was fiercely loyal to his friends and family, and was proud to serve in the US Navy, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. |
Petty Officer Kenneth Aaron Smith "Kenny" of Cherry Hill, NJ, died August 21, 2017, when the ship on which he was serving, the USS John S. McCain, collided with an oil tanker just southeast of Malaysia. He was 22.
Smith, a 2013 graduate of Cherry Hill High School East, was born in Jackson, MI, and moved to Chesapeake, VA, when he was 10. Described by classmates and friends as adventurous and fun-loving, he wrote recently on social media:
"My bucket list of things to do before I die is close to completion already. I've skydived, jumped headfirst from an 8 story tower, have seen virtual reality at its baby stages, and will soon be traveling to the other side of the world."
Kenny was fiercely loyal to his friends and family, and was proud to serve in the US Navy, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. In his spare time while aboard the McCain, Kenny wrote extensively on Wattpad, where 280 followers were treated to his fan fiction works based on the Legend of Zelda, Rick and Morty, and Undertale characters. An avid gamer, he was president of his school's video game club, and shared his expertise and love of games like Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) on his YouTube channel, KiloVarietyGaming. His tag line read, "Life is a game; the question is, do you have the controller?"
Kenny is survived by his beloved father Darryl Smith (Maryann) of Cherry Hill, NJ, his beloved mother April Brandon, of Milford, MI and his beloved step-mother, Isa Booth-Smith, of Plano, TX. He is also survived by loving siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, shipmates and friends.
Smith, a 2013 graduate of Cherry Hill High School East, was born in Jackson, MI, and moved to Chesapeake, VA, when he was 10. Described by classmates and friends as adventurous and fun-loving, he wrote recently on social media:
"My bucket list of things to do before I die is close to completion already. I've skydived, jumped headfirst from an 8 story tower, have seen virtual reality at its baby stages, and will soon be traveling to the other side of the world."
Kenny was fiercely loyal to his friends and family, and was proud to serve in the US Navy, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. In his spare time while aboard the McCain, Kenny wrote extensively on Wattpad, where 280 followers were treated to his fan fiction works based on the Legend of Zelda, Rick and Morty, and Undertale characters. An avid gamer, he was president of his school's video game club, and shared his expertise and love of games like Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) on his YouTube channel, KiloVarietyGaming. His tag line read, "Life is a game; the question is, do you have the controller?"
Kenny is survived by his beloved father Darryl Smith (Maryann) of Cherry Hill, NJ, his beloved mother April Brandon, of Milford, MI and his beloved step-mother, Isa Booth-Smith, of Plano, TX. He is also survived by loving siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, shipmates and friends.
News Release CHERRY HILL, NJ – Today, U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on the passing of Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kenneth Smith – age 22 of Cherry Hill, New Jersey – who was one of the sailors on the U.S. Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain when it collided with an oil tanker this week:
“Kenneth Smith is an American hero – and both New Jersey and our country lost a great young man this week.
“Kenneth sacrificed so much so that all of us could be safe and our community thanks him for his service as we mourn this terrible loss.
“Former Cherry Hill classmates say Kenneth was smart, patriotic and always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Navy. As a father and father-in-law of veterans, I’m heartbroken by this awful news. I join our entire South Jersey community in mourning ET2(SW) Kenneth Smith’s tragic passing.
“My family and I are keeping his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”
“Kenneth Smith is an American hero – and both New Jersey and our country lost a great young man this week.
“Kenneth sacrificed so much so that all of us could be safe and our community thanks him for his service as we mourn this terrible loss.
“Former Cherry Hill classmates say Kenneth was smart, patriotic and always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Navy. As a father and father-in-law of veterans, I’m heartbroken by this awful news. I join our entire South Jersey community in mourning ET2(SW) Kenneth Smith’s tragic passing.
“My family and I are keeping his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”
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New Jersey Run for the Fallen 2022 ~ Click on photos below to enlarge...
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