Kenneth Arnold was born on August 9, 1908 in Walton, NY son of Alexander Arnold (1850-1913) and Josephine Ford (1873-1960). His parents were married in 1891. He had six siblings, Catherine (1890 - ?), Richard (? - ?), Frank (1891 - ?), Bertha (1894 - ?), Ruth (? - ?) and Harlow (1897 - ?). His dad was a farmer and died when he was very young and his mom eventually remarried. His brother Harlow died in World War I of influenza. By 1930, US Census records show that Kenneth was living on 24 Meredith St. in Delhi, NY with his step father, mom, older brother Richard and older sister Ruth. All five of them were working at the time. By 1940, then 32 years old, Kenneth lived with his mom and his sister Ruth. Kenneth attended school through the 8th grade. Newspapers reported he was self-employed, running a junk business.

He registered for the draft on January 3, 1941 in Delhi, NY. He was 5'-5" tall and weighed 135 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes. He was drafted into the service through Utica, NY on November 23, 1942 with service number 32663521. Just days later, on December 4, 1942 while on a train en-route to camp he died from what Army records noted as " a cut or puncture of the carotid artery" and that "the condition he died of existed prior to his entry into the service". His remains were escorted back to Delhi, NY by Staff Sgt. Alfred LaTerza and buried on May 5, 1943 in the Walton Cemetery in Walton, NY. He was 34 years of age.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

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If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Delaware

Sources

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/257050371/kenneth-arnold: accessed September 17, 2025), memorial page for Kenneth Arnold (unknown–unknown), Find a Grave Memorial ID 257050371, citing Walton Cemetery, Walton, Delaware County, New York, USA; Maintained by KimDe1NY (contributor 47339055).

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

"Pvt. Kenneth Arnold, Delhi Reservist, Dies on Way to Army Camp", The Delaware Republican-Express, Delhi, Delaware County, NY, Thursday, December 10, 1942, pg. 1.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Walton, Delaware, New York; Roll: 1022; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0033

Year: 1930; Census Place: Delhi, Delaware, New York; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0012; FHL microfilm: 2341153

Supporting Documents