Kenneth Roland Day was born on March 18, 1921, in Danville, New Hampshire. A graduate of Sanborn Seminary in 1940, he was a well-known local athlete, excelling in both baseball and football. Before entering the service, he worked as a carpenter’s apprentice in his hometown.

Day was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 29, 1942, and was assigned to Company D, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He reported for active duty at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, on August 13, 1942. After completing training across Georgia, North Carolina, and New Jersey, he deployed to North Africa in April 1943.

He participated in the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) in July 1943, where his regiment fought through Troina and Nicosia. Day was wounded during the Sicilian campaign and spent several months recovering in a hospital in England. Though he expected to be sent home due to his injuries, he was declared fit for duty in time for the invasion of Normandy.

On June 6, 1944, Day landed on Omaha Beach with the “Big Red One.” He survived the initial landings and fought south toward La Vacquerie. On June 14, 1944, Day braved heavy artillery and machine-gun fire to provide first aid and evacuate his wounded squad leader, an action for which he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. He was killed in action the following day, June 15, 1944, after being struck by shrapnel during a German counterattack. He was the only casualty from Danville, New Hampshire, during World War II.