Born on January 8, 1949, in Espanola, Canada, Bruce was the son of Thomas A. Kennedy and Winnifred M. Kennedy, the brother of Karen Lynn Kennedy of Espanola, Ontario, and Barbara Ann Kennedy of London, Ontario. He enlisted in the US Marines on December 17, 1967, in Minneapolis, MN, arriving in Vietnam on May 24, 1968, where he was assigned for duty with Company L, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.

On August 26, during Operation Lancaster II, after searching for the enemy at their designated area, Company L set up a defensive perimeter north of the Rockpile in the Cam Lo District of northern Quang Tri Province. Three Marines were sent out to an LP (Listening Post) as security, and within a short period, the NVA launched a mortar attack on the Company. The men on the LP observed a large force of NAV soldiers moving toward the perimeter and opening fire on the enemy force but were quickly overwhelmed and killed by the superior force. They were declared MIA (Missing In Action) until recovered the next day. One of the casualties was PFC Kennedy, one of the men on the LP who was killed in action as a result of enemy gunshot wounds.

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