Msgt. John Kenes USMC, Retired. Today October 10, 2019 at 95 years of age, another of "America's Greatest Generation" has gone on to be with our Heavenly Father. John was born on July 10, 1924 in Monongahela, PA to John and Anna (Vargos) Kenes. He was the second oldest of nine children. His father came to America in 1910, at the age of 16, from Czechoslovakia. His mother was born in Latrobe, PA in 1908. John was a coal miner's son and not wanting to be a coal miner, lied about his age and enlisted in the US Navy in 1942 at the age of 17. On his first deployment he was sent to Algiers, as he would say "to hunt down Rommel" He served on the USS Woolsey in WWII, a destroyer. They would sink 3 submarines during the war and pull some men to safety aboard the ship. He would serve in the Navy until 1947. For many years, he would go to the Woolsey reunions until travel became harder for the others to meet up. The "Galloping Ghosts" too, have lost another brother. He would marry his first wife, Lucetta Ludwig in September of 1947 in Detroit, MI and have two daughters, Jonetta and Lucetta. In 1956, he would marry his second wife, Betty Smith and have two sons, John Daniel and George Michael. John would be a civilian until he enlisted in the Marines in 1961. He would serve 3 tours of duty in Vietnam and be awarded 3 Purple Hearts. John received many medals and commendations during his career, two of which were Bronze Star and Commendation Medal for Valor and Heroic Service during combat. It was said by others that he should have been awarded the Navy Cross. John never bragged about his service so forgive me for bragging just a little. In 1965, he would marry Ethyl (Savage) Wilkovich and they would be married for 52 years. Ethyl has preceded him in death in 2017. Now they will be together for eternity. A lifelong member of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church of Uniontown. As well as a member of the American Legion, Catholic War Vets, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Mon Valley Leathernecks Association. He was commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Western PA for many years. John and Ethyl organized the Wreaths Across America for the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. John is survived by his 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren. He also has one remaining sibling, a sister Marie (Kenes) Miles of Hartland, MI. John was preceded in death by his great grandson Kevin Michael Moore and a son-in-law Donald C. McKinney Jr.  There are many nieces, nephews and cousins that I do not know to add except for one cousin, John (Elaine) Vetalice of MI and a niece Barbara Herrington of Show Low, AZ. I should mention Mark and Debbie McShane who took care of him in their home for the last year. Friends welcome at Stephen R. Haky Funeral Home 603 N. Gallatin Ave. Ext. Uniontown on Sunday from 6-8 Pm and Monday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM where a Parastas Service will be held at 7:00 PM. Tuesday Panachida Service at 10:15 AM followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Church in Uniontown. Interment to follow at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Cemetery in Hopwood will full military honors to be accorded. Tributes welcome at www.hakyfuneralhome.com