Isaac Kenton Allum

In Memory of Navy PhM 3C Isaac Kenton Allum Gregory, South Dakota Gregory County

October 11, 1925 – February 19, 1945 Killed in Action at Iwo Jima

Isaac Kenton Allum was born Sunday, October 11, 1925, at 11:30 PM in Gregory, South Dakota. Although the first to have been born in a hospital, Isaac was the sixth child of Claude E. and Grace Mabel Allum. Isaac was named after his grandfather and his great-grandfather. Isaac went by the name of Kenton while he was growing up and going to school in Herrick, South Dakota. Kenton graduated on May 20, 1943, as Valedictorian of his class.

His sisters provided some information about “Kent,” as he was called. Ruth-Jane and Shirley both remember Kent as caring and thoughtful of other people. Shelia Mae remembers, “Kent helped me with a story for school. It featured a person named Reddy-Who. He later bought me a little stuffed bear that I named Reddy- Who.” His late sister Wilma, closest to Kent in age, had once written that “Kent was a great tease.”

Kenton volunteered for the Navy on November 4, 1942, while he was still a senior, and attended Sioux Falls College until he was called to service. On December 26, 1943, Kenton entered the service and took his training at the U.S. Naval Training Station at the Great Lakes, Illinois.

On January 5, 1944, Kenton Allum was recommended for the Navy Hospital Corps. Allum was then sent to the U.S. Naval Training Station at Bainbridge, MD, where he achieved exceptional grades in classes and received a rating of S 2/C; on April 7, 1944, S 2/C Allum graduated from the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps. After further service, training, and testing, Allum was awarded the rank of Pharmacist Mate 3/C and was assigned to the USS Newberry, stationed at San Francisco, California. Before embarkation, Allum was able to see his mother in October of 1944.

Allum then was sent to the Pacific where he was able to see his brother, Kermit, a Marine stationed in Honolulu.

On July 19, 1945, Shirley Hudlicky, Kenton Allum’s sister, received this message:

19 February 1945, a Platoon from the Newberry landed on Iwo Jima, a reconnaissance group early in the assault. It was the fourth wave from the ship. The platoon was immediately confronted with heavy mortar fire from the enemy after landing. Around noon, answering a cry for “corpsman”, Allum went to help and never came back.

The body of Navy PhM 3C Isaac Kenton Allum was never found. Memorial markers are in the family plot in Herrick, SD, cemetery, and at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. At Punchbowl Crater, Allum’s name is engraved among the 18, 093 servicemen “whose earthly resting place is known only to God.” There is also a marker at the Military Cemetery in Sturgis, SD, and in Iwo Jima. For citations, Isaac Allum was awarded posthumously the Purple Heart, the World War II Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

The family of Isaac Kenton Allum received a box containing his personal effects on October 21, 1945. His sister, Shirley, remembers

I can witness that it was a sad time, as the box was unpacked.... Isaac K. Allum, an innocent man of 19 years, was cut down in his youth never to realize his full potential, leaving a hole in the family where he has been greatly missed but never forgotten.

Isaac Kenton Allum was a great soldier. He gave his live for his country. We will always remember him as a great soldier who sacrificed his life for the United States.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Chrissy Antuna, 8th Grade West, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, South Dakota, November 3, 2000. Information for this entry was provided by Mrs. Shirley E. Hudlicky, Vancouver, Washington, sister of Navy PhM 3/C Isaac K. Allum.