William E. Cannon, VMF 124, 1943.
From the Kenneth A. Walsh Collection (COLL/3580), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections. OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH.
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Kenneth Walsh enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1933 at the age of 17. In 1942, he was assigned to VMF-124 which was sent to Guadalcanal in 1943. He claimed his first three Japanese planes on 1 April 1943 and two more in his next combat, 13 May 1943, becoming the first Corsair ace. For actions in the Solomon Islands on 15 and 30 August 1943, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He returned to combat in 1945, flying with VMF-222, scoring his last kill at Okinawa on 22 June 1945.
Walsh remained in the Marine Corps for a full career, flying transports in Korea and retiring as a lieutenant colonel in February 1962.
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