Kenneth Ambrose Walsh (1916 -1998) was a USMC lieutenant colonel fighter ace with a record of 21 enemy aircraft destroyed and a Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a veteran of the Korean War. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as a pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron 124 in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area. Determined to thwart the enemy’s attempt to bomb Allied ground forces and shipping at Vella Lavella on 15 August 1943 1st Lt. Walsh repeatedly dived his plane into an enemy formation outnumbering his own division 6 to 1 and although his plane was hit numerous times shot down 2 Japanese dive bombers and 1 fighter. After developing engine trouble on 30 August during a vital escort mission 1st Lt. Walsh landed his mechanically disabled plane at Munda quickly replaced it with another and proceeded to rejoin his flight over Kahili.
