It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify you of the death of our classmate, Hank Kenny, on June 5, 2025, in McLean, VA. 

Hank is survived by his wife, Mary Frances; their son, Frank, and his wife, Lorie Logan; their daughter, Susan Copsey, and her husband, Matthew; their son, John and his wife, Julie; their daughter, Kathleen Gray, and her husband, James; and their grandchildren, Megan Kenny, Julia and Andrew Copsey, James, Marty, and Caroline Gray, and Patrick Kenny.

Visitation will be on June 20th at 10:30 AM at St. John the Beloved Catholic Church, 6420 Linway Terrace, McLean, VA, followed by a Mass at 11:00 AM. 

Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. 

Condolences may be sent to Mary Frances at 1428 Lady Bird Drive, McLean, VA  22101-3227. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Hank’s memory be sent to the Gary Sinise Foundation, Gift Processing Department, PO Box 1858 Merrifield, VA  22116-9641. 

Well done, Hank.  Be thou at peace.

Click here to go to Hank's Last Roll Call Tribute.

Remembrances:

Class Memorial Pages/K-2 Hank Kenny.pdf

Henry J. Kenny PhD 1961

Cullum No. 23653-1961 | June 5, 2025 | Died in McLean, VA
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, VA

Henry James “Hank” Kenny was born on the South Side of Chicago. He attended St. Ignatius High School, a Jesuit school that placed a strong emphasis on education and service. This made an indelible impression on Hank and drew him to attend another Jesuit school, Xavier University, for college. While at Xavier, he participated on the ROTC’s Pershing Rifles Drill Team. This, coupled with his interest in military history and his dedication to service, led him to consider applying to West Point.

After two years at Xavier University, Hank applied for and received an appointment to West Point in 1957. Hank valued his years there, and (among other accomplishments) he excelled in learning Russian. A highlight of his Academy experience was attending the Army-Villanova football game, where he had a blind date with Mary Frances, who in 1963 became his lifelong companion, soulmate, and wife. Upon graduation Hank selected the Infantry branch and, after completing Airborne and Ranger schools, was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY.

One of Hank’s first assignments was to lead a platoon of soldiers to Oxford, MS to support James Meredith in becoming the first black man to enter the University of Mississippi. Hank’s platoon played an active role in managing the hostile crowd that tried to block and deny the enrollment. Soon thereafter he was on alert and preparing for the airborne invasion of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Later, Hank applied for and was accepted to the Special Forces (SF), which would inevitably lead to combat tours in Vietnam. Prior to shipping overseas, he graduated from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA with proficiency in Vietnamese. 

His first tour in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) began in November 1965 when he was assigned to a SF outpost in War Zone D in III Corps. He served as a detachment commander, SF operations officer and a province advisor. At the end of the tour, he returned to Fort Benning, GA for the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, following which he became a company commander in the 199th Airborne Brigade. In 1967 he returned for a second tour to RVN and participated in SF Project Delta. These actions were aggressive “seek and destroy” missions against both the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army. It was during one of these actions that Hank was wounded in both legs, and his left leg had to be amputated. He was first medevacked to Saigon, then to Japan, and finally to Walter Reed Medical Center (WRMC) in Washington, DC.

Hank spent more than two years recuperating at WRMC. Always a positive, high achiever, he made good use of this time by enrolling in graduate-level courses at American University and earning a master’s degree in international relations. Hank was then assigned as an instructor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point, where he taught international relations, comparative politics, and a course on the problems of developing nations. 

Following medical retirement due to his combat injuries, Hank and his family moved to Northern Virginia, where in 1974 Hank earned his doctorate degree in international relations. He soon after authored two important books: The American Role in Vietnam and East Asia: Between Two Revolutions and Shadow of the Dragon. 

In 1975 Hank joined the House Select Committee on Missing Persons in Southeast Asia to investigate the issue of American POWs and MIAs from the Vietnam War. Here he found himself returning time after time to Vietnam with congressional POW delegations, presidential commissions, and as a professor at the Institute of International Relations in Hanoi. On one such visit, he traveled with the former Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, who was newly appointed as the ambassador to Japan. Mansfield asked Hank to be his special assistant, and Hank served in this role from 1977 to 1981. 

When Hank returned to the United States, he worked at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, where he focused on the world-wide reduction of nuclear weapons. Here he became very familiar with the latest weapons systems. This led him to become a staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he played an important role in the ratification of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Agreement, ultimately known as the INF Treaty. After treaty ratification in 1987, and ever determined to be productive, Hank joined the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA) as a senior analyst and studies director, conducting many classified research projects focused on national defense issues, particularly in Asia. 

While at CNA, Hank began working with the Wounded Warriors Program at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. He joined a “Wounded Warrior Mentor Program,” designed to help severely wounded veterans identify a career goal and take steps toward attaining that goal. This program emphasized education, internships, and jobs. He ultimately mentored over 400 wounded Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force veterans and helped them navigate their transition to a new and productive life. To him, this was a labor of love.

Beyond his professional achievements, Hank was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He and Mary Frances settled in McLean, VA and raised four accomplished children: Frank, Susan, John, and Kate. Throughout a lifetime of service to country, Hank was courageous, humble, and sustained by his deep Catholic faith. He would never admit it, but he was a true hero.

— Mike Urette and Frank Kenny

Obituaries:

Henry James Kenny

September 19, 1937 - June 5, 2025

IN THE CARE OF
Murphy Funeral Homes

Henry James "Hank" Kenny, a distinguished veteran, dedicated public servant, and beloved family man, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025.

Born and raised in Chicago, Hank graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1961. In 1962 he joined the 101st Airborne Division where he led a company into Oxford Mississippi to quell riots and confiscate weapons, helping James Meredith become the first African American to enter the University of Mississippi. Hank served two tours of duty in Vietnam and directed Special Forces training for that country. During the Tet Offensive of 1968 he was wounded and evacuated to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. As an amputee, he attended American University in a wheelchair, earning a Ph.D. in International Studies.

From 1969-1972, Hank taught in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point. He later served on the Select Committee for Mission Persons in Southeast Asia, and he was with the first U.S. delegation after the war to return to Vietnam and bring home remains of U.S. service personnel. He subsequently served as the Special Assistant for Policy to Ambassador Mike Mansfield in Tokyo, Japan (1977-1981). Returning from Tokyo, he worked as a professional staff member for the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. He went on to serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and later as Vice President of the American League for Exports and Security Assistance. In 1995 he joined the Center for Naval Analyses, where he directed studies on strategic issues ranging from security in Asia to irregular warfare in Iraq.

Beyond his professional achievements, Hank was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He met his beloved wife at a football game during his West Point years, and together they built a life full of love and shared adventures. A mentor to many, Hank offered guidance and wisdom to all who sought his counsel, always leading with humility and kindness.

Hank is survived by Mary Frances, his beloved wife of 62 years; his children Frank Kenny (Lorie Logan), Susan Copsey (Matt Copsey), John Kenny (Julie Kenny), and Kate Gray (Alex Gray); his grandchildren Megan Kenny, Julia and Andrew Copsey, Patrick Kenny, and James, Marty, and Caroline Gray; his sisters Cathy and Marge, and a brother, Paul.

Throughout his life, Hank was sustained by his deep Catholic faith. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 20th at St. John the Beloved Catholic Church, 6420 Linway Terrace, McLean VA, with a visitation beginning at 10:30 AM. A burial service at Arlington National Cemetery will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Gary Sinise Foundation, PO Box 40726, Nashville, TN 27204.