(reprinted from the Houston Chronicle)

Spring Branch family mourning death of Marine son in accident  March 22, 2003

By DALE LEZON
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

The Houston father of a U.S. Marine killed in a helicopter crash in Kuwait said his son had been a high school football player and honor student who later developed a passion to serve his country.

Cpl. Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, died along with three other U.S. Marines and eight British Marines when their CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed Thursday about nine miles south of the Iraqi border town of Umm Qasr. Military officials said no hostile fire was reported in the area.

Kennedy's father, Mark D. Kennedy, said his son was proud to fight for Iraq's freedom.

"All he ever said was that it was his duty and he was looking forward to serving," Mark Kennedy said.

The Kennedy's Spring Branch-area home was somber Friday night. Mark Kennedy, his wife, Valerie, his daughter, Gretchen Helgeson, 28, and her husband, Brett Helgeson, 29, hugged one another.

They stared quietly at a photograph taken of Brian Kennedy in his Marine dress uniform.

"He was a very brave young man," said his stepmother, Valerie Kennedy.

Mark Kennedy said the military told him that the exact cause of the crash had not been determined, but that hostile fire was not suspected.

He said his son had been trained as a mechanic and was crew chief on the helicopter.

"Our son and brother proudly volunteered to serve in the United States Marine Corps," Mark Kennedy said in a prepared statement. "He gave his life in a effort to contribute to the freedom of the Iraqi people. We are so very proud of him and of his service to his country."

Mark Kennedy said his son grew up in Glenview, Ill. He was a starting guard on the football team at Glenbrook South High School and helped the team reach the conference championship game as a junior. He graduated from high school in 1995 and enrolled at Purdue University, where he studied mechanical engineering and played lacrosse.

In about 1997, he transferred to Texas Tech University and continued to study mechanical engineering. But his calling was to be a U.S. Marine, he told his father. A fellow student who had been a Marine became an inspiration to him, his father said. He left college and enlisted in 1999.

"He was very excited about it," he said.

Brian Kennedy was stationed at Camp Pendleton, a Marine base in Southern California near San Diego, his father said.

In addition to his father and sister, he is survived by his mother, Melissa Derbyshire, of Port Clyde, Maine. Derbyshire could not be reached for comment Friday night.

Mark Kennedy said he was uncertain when funeral services would be held.