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Veterans
Surprise D-Day veteran honored on anniversary
Courtesy Hospice of the Valley
Ned Kent, left, is saluted by Hospice of the Valley volunteer Rodney Dehmer and Kent’s son-in-law, Sam Knott, both Vietnam era veterans.
Posted
By Lin Sue Flood | Hospice of the Valley
At the tender age of 18, Surprise resident Ned Kent joined the Army.
That was January 1940 — just four months into World War II — and he served faithfully through July 1945, virtually the end of the war.
A hard worker, Kent rose to the rank of technical sergeant and fought on the front lines of the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.
He and his troop won a Bronze Star for their heroic actions storming Normandy while under German bombardment on D-Day 80 years ago.
His daughter, Debi, said she is enormously proud of his courage.
“My dad is a hero, but my dad is also a humble man,” she said.
Proving her point, the 101-year-old was quick to add: “I’m no hero. I just served in the Army.”
But those five years of service were difficult to talk about. It took Kent decades to open up about what he experienced, including the horrors witnessed while liberating a concentration camp.
One of the people he shared openly with was Hospice of the Valley social worker Roberta Fellows. Once she learned about his time in the service, she was determined to give him some much-needed recognition for all he endured.
She called upon a veteran volunteer with Hospice of the Valley’s Saluting Our Veteran’s program.
Just before Armed Forces Day, volunteer Rodney Dehmer paid Kent a visit to honor the Surprise man for his service and sacrifice.
The humble centenarian was beside himself, surrounded by son-in-law Sam, a Vietnam-era veteran, and Debi, who brought a surprise gift: 11 of his medals framed in a shadow box.
“I know what it feels to come back from combat,” said Dehmer, a Goodyear veteran who served in the Marines during the Vietnam War. “There’s a brotherhood and we appreciate each other.”
Roberta Fellows and nurse Michelle Stilphen were deeply touched as they watched Kent's tribute.
“My dad was also a World War II veteran, so this is extra special to me,” Fellows said.
Stilphen saw how meaningful this was to Kent. At one point, he closed his eyes and clasped Dehmer's hand in appreciation.
“It’s important that we let our veteran patients know how grateful we are. They deserve to be acknowledged.”
For information on Hospice of the Valley’s Salutes program or to become a veteran volunteer, visithov.org/volunteer, or call 602-636-6336.
