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James Hamilton Kean, 66
CUMMAQUID — James Hamilton Kean, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps who was instrumental in the evacuation of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, died suddenly on May 5, 2008. He was 66 years old.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Rosanne Elizabeth Kean of Cummaquid; his four children, Paige Gilbert of San Francisco, Mike Kean and Pamela Kean of Seattle, Wash., and Ryan Kean of Los Angeles; and his two beloved grandchildren, Benjamin and Charlotte.
Jim was born on June 30, 1941, in Pittsburgh, Pa. He joined the Marine Corps in 1961, and served two tours of duty in Vietnam as an officer, earning numerous citations including two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. He was commanding officer, company 'C' Marine Security Guard Battalion and Grand Support Force Commander, United States Embassy Compound in Saigon. On April 30, 1975, Major Jim Kean was in command of the last Marines to leave the rooftop of the American Embassy in Saigon, thus ending the Vietnam War Era of American involvement in that country.
He retired in 1983, and used his fluency in Chinese and his experience of the Pacific Rim to found Yankee Traders, an export/import company dealing with Asia. He subsequently purchased Pacific Grinding Wheel in Marysville, Wash., running that company until 1998 when he and Rosanne retired to Cummaquid.
He graduated with a degree in Asian Studies from UC Berkeley, and from the Defense Language Institute, having studied Russian and Mandarin. Jim was a wonderful father, dear friend, loving husband and true American Hero. We loved him so much and are thankful for all the years we had together as a family. We will miss him terribly.
A brief service will be held at 1:45 p.m., on Monday, May 12, at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. A reception will follow at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Barnstable.
Semper Fidelis sir.
