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Kenneth John MacArthur
was born on 9 Apr 1930, the only child of J.R. and Isabel MacArthur. We assume
he spent his earlier years in San Francisco, CA. As a young man, Ken received
some training as a draftsman, and he worked in this capacity with a California
consulting firm. He received his West Point appointment from California Senator
Sheridan Downey, and on 5 Jul 1950, he entered the Academy as a member of the
Class of 1954.
After Beast
Barracks, Ken was assigned to Company L-1, his permanent company. He completed
Plebe year without significant difficulties and ranked in the upper half of his
class. The included photograph shows Ken in South Area ready for parade.
At the
beginning of Yearling year in September 1951, Ken had two L-1 roommates, Bill
Wallace and Mike Drake. They remember Ken as a congenial roommate and somewhat
of a joker with an appreciation for satire. His written work was exceptionally
neat and structured. Ken had been an avid reader, especially of military
history. He was quite knowledgeable about World War I and World War II. In
conversation, he would often come up with little-known incidents that occurred
during those wars.
As Christmas
leave approached, Ken planned to stay at the Academy because he did not have
the funds to buy a ticket on a commercial flight to San Francisco. Just prior to
Christmas break, he was offered a seat on an Air Force C-47 training flight. He
reluctantly accepted the offer. Tragically, on 30 Dec 1951, during the return
trip from San Francisco, the aircraft crashed into a mountain about 65 miles
northeast of Phoenix, AZ. All passengers and crew were killed.
At the
request of Ken’s parents and West Point, his roommates Bill and Mike, were flown
to San Francisco to meet Mr. and Mrs. MacArthur and attend the funeral. On 9 Jan
1952, Kenneth John MacArthur was honored in a military ceremony and interred at
The Presidio, San Francisco.
Ken was a
person of honor and character, with very strong morals. He was a credit to
himself, West Point, and his family. When he died, a very promising career was
cut short. Well done thou good and faithful classmate.
—William L.
Wallace ’54 |
