Distinguished Service Cross citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to William R. Kenney (0445359), First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the 227th Field Artillery Battalion, 29th Infantry Division, in Normandy, France. On August 10 1944, information was received that an advanced infantry battalion in the St Germain sector was isolated and in desperate need of ammunition. Fully aware of the hazards of the undertaking, First Lieutenant Kenney volunteered to pilot a liaison plane to drop the ammunition to the beleaguered battalion. Despite intense enemy small arms fire which was directed at his slow, unarmed, light and extremely vulnerable aircraft, First Lieutenant successfully reached his destination where urgently needed ammunition was dropped. The intrepidity, professional skill and devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant reflect great credit upon himself and the Military Service.

Headquarters, 29th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 8 (1945)