David B. Jennings Letters

David B. Jennings (1929-1952) was born on December 9, 1929 in New Rochelle, New York. He was raised in Connecticut and attended Fairfield College Preparatory School, graduating in 1947. He attended the University of Vermont where he was an officer in the Sigma Nu fraternity. He was also a director of Kake Walk in 1951 and student officer in ROTC.

After graduating in 1951, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Jennings underwent officer training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and infantry training at Fort Dix, New Jersey before going overseas. He was sent first to Japan in March of 1952 and to Korea that May where he was assigned to Company G, 223rd Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. He served as platoon leader on the front lines. He received the combat Infantry badge and was promoted to first lieutenant. He was killed in action in the "Punch Bowl" area of Korea on December 8, 1952, one day before his 22nd birthday. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for "gallantry in action" on the first anniversary of his death. He also received a Purple Heart. A trophy for the best snow sculpture during Kake Walk was named in honor of Jennings.

Jennings was the son of James Robert Jennings (1898-1969, UVM class of 1921) and Madine Julia Boardman (1898-1993, UVM class of 1921). He had three brothers: James Robert Jennings Jr. (about 1926-1971, UVM Class of 1950), John Philip Jennings (1928-1983, UVM Class of 1952), and Patrick Callan Jennings (b. about 1933). James Jr. served in the U.S. Army as an Engineer in Japan, rising to the rank of Colonel in the reserves. John served as a Lieutenant during the Korean War. Philip was a member of ROTC and served in the Air Force.