For extraordinary heroism in battle, First Lieutenant Clair Arthur Rawson Kinney, of the 49th Aero Squadron, United States Army Air Service, was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. “With a patrol of six other machines Lieutenant Kinney attacked 17 enemy planes, (Fokker type). Diving into the midst of the enemy formation he fired into one of the German planes, and pursued it until it crashed to the ground, though he was wounded by another Fokker, which attacked him from the rear. After maneuvering to escape his pursuer, Lieutenant Kinney immediately attacked another enemy plane directly in front of him, and forced it to the ground. In so doing he was fired upon from behind by another Fokker, several bullets striking him in the body and another setting fire to his gas tank. He succeeded in making a safe landing. This gallant officer afterward died of his wounds.” (Congressional citation.) Clair died in a German hospital on October 4, 1918, after being wounded in the mid-air battle near Doulcon, France. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre for his actions. Originally buried in Stenay, France, he was later reinterred at Meuse-Argonne Cemetery. (bit.ly/uw_kinney)
Clair was the youngest of Martin Palmer Kinney and his wife, Margaret Mahoney’s four sons. Clair was born in Sioux City, Iowa and raised in Endicott, Washington. Immediately following the declaration of war he enlisted. In May, 1917, he was appointed to the Presidio for the First Officers’ Training School. He unit advanced to front early in fall of 1918. A senior in the College of Fine Arts when he withdrew from the UW, Clair was a member of the Varsity Boat Club and planned to pursue a career in architecture.