Jackie Kenny, mother of Captain Christopher James Kenny, 32, left, said that her son was a voracious reader from the time he was old enough to read. After high school, he got accepted to the Citadel where he was a history major. “Because of his major and because he had read so much, Christopher understood why we needed to be in Iraq,” said Jackie. “He would say to me, ‘Mom, appeasement never works. Look at WWII--it didn’t work then either. The final blow was 9/11. From Tehran in the 70s until now, things have just escalated. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger. It’s better to go over there and take care of it.’ And he did."
 
Quickly rising to captain in just under three years, Christopher was devoted to his country, the mission, and his men. “I remember when he was awarded a Bronze Star during his first deployment,” said Jackie. “He deferred it to his Platoon Sergeant because he thought that man deserved it more than he did. That’s the kind of man he was.” Christopher died on May 3, 2004 and was posthumously awarded the rank of captain. He also received a second Bronze Star during his second deployment.
 
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Capt. Kenny's mother, Jackie Kenny of Merritt Island, Fla., told The Post and Courier's Terry Joyce of her departed son: "Christopher was so proud to be an American soldier and to be a Citadel graduate. He had a great philosophy which he took from the last line of Alfred Tennyson's poem 'Ulysses.' It reads, 'To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.' "
 
Capt. Kenny, who was on his second tour in Iraq, clearly didn't yield from the challenge of serving his country. As we mourn his loss, we also should reflect upon the inspiring example set by him -- and by so many others rightfully proud to be American soldiers. Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier, 5/11/04
 
"It was always in his blood," said his father, a retired Air Force master sergeant who completed four tours of duty in Vietnam. This tour was Kenny's second in Iraq since the beginning of the war. While there, he stayed in touch with his family by mail and phone. He described blinding sandstorms, extreme heat, terrible food and little sleep but always told them he was thankful to be a soldier and executive officer for his unit. Miami Herald, 5/7/04