More detail on this person: Harry William
Osborn Kinnard, Lieutenant General U.S. Army
(retired) at the age of 93 died peacefully at his
home in Arlington, Virginia on January 5, 2009. A
soldier, leader and statesman, he epitomized the
motto of his Alma Mater, West Point, "Duty, Honor,
Country". He was born into an Army family on 7
May 1915 in Dallas, Texas. He lived an Army life
of service to his country beginning with
witnessing the attack on Pearl Harbor and defense
of the island, then later parachuting into France
on D-Day, commanding airborne soldiers in Holland
and directing operations during the Battle of the
Bulge with the 101st Airborne Division at
Bastogne.
After WWII, he continued to have a distinguished
military career. In the early 1960's, he formed
and tested a new type of Army division and after 2
½ years transformed and lead it into combat in
Vietnam as the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).
This new Division set the standard for future U.S.
Army airmobile operations. He ended his Army
career as the Commander of Combat Developments
Command at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia in 1969. He
received many high military honors, including the
Distinguished Service Cross, and being knighted by
the Queen of Holland for his actions in Holland in
1944. After his retirement he remained very
active as a consultant and advisor. He was
president of the Army Aviation Association of
America and inducted into the Army Aviation Hall
of Fame. He was president of both the 1st Cavalry
Division and 101st Airborne Division Associations.
He represented the President of the United States
during the 50th Anniversary Commemorative events
of WWII in "Market-Garden" ceremonies in the
Netherlands.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Kinnard;
three daughters, Susan C. Payson, of Prescott, AZ,
Kathleen L. Coursey of Stockton, CA and Cynthia
L. Harman of Lexington, SC; two sons, Robert H.
Kinnard of Prescott, AZ and Harry W. O. Kinnard
III of Gainesville, FL; two stepdaughters, Libby
Nicholson of San Clemente, CA and Janmarie Hall
of Hamilton, VA and one step-son, COL (R) Tom M.
Nicholson Jr. of Augusta, GA; sixteen
grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. His
son, Bruce Kinnard, preceded him in death.
A viewing and visitation will be on Sunday January
11th 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the
DEMAINE FUNERAL HOME, 520 S. Washington
Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Gravesite
service and interment will be at Arlington
National Cemetery with full military honors on
Thursday March 19th at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of
flowers, donations can be made to Calvary United
Methodist Church, Memorial Fund, 2315 S. Grant
St. Arlington, VA 22202
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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