Kent Douglas Jordan was born in Jersey City, NJ, on August 3, 1944, to Hannah and Isaac Jordan. Kent had two sisters, Anita and Karen. He attended East Orange Grammar School, Maxson Middle School, and Plainfield High School, graduating in 1964. Jordan was a Baptist, attending Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield and St. Paul Baptist Church in Front Royal, VA.
A well-rounded young man, Jordan was involved in varsity cross-country in his sophomore year, varsity track in his sophomore and junior years and the radio club in his senior year. In track, Jordan excelled, running in the PENN relays for three years, and was a relay anchor for Plainfield High School, Montclair State College, and New York University. He was accepted at Tennessee State but deferred in favor of serving his country in the US Marine Corps.
Jordan entered the US Marine Corps on June 26, 1964, as a member of the 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He quickly attained the rank of Lance Corporal (LCPL).
On October 28, 1965, he received gunshot wounds from hostile forces in the vicinity of the Da Nang Republic of Vietnam. He died on November 3, 1965, at the USAF Hospital at Clark Air Force Base on the Phillippine Islands.
Jordan was the first Vietnam combat fatality in the Plainfield area. He was given a Memorial Service and buried in Hillside Cemetery in Plainfield.
Information provided by Plainfield High School and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
