Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea Service) and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Kenny Lee Boykin was born in Andrews, Texas. He was the oldest of four children born to Geneva and Huey Boykin. He spent most of his early years in Andrews, attended Andrews High School and also attended Permian High School in Odessa. He loved being around people. Country/Western music was his favorite.
Kenny enlisted in the U.S. Army in May, shortly after his 17th birthday. He married his wife Mae of Odessa in 1964. He did a tour with the First Cavalry Division Korea in 1964-66, re-enlisted in 1968 for three years, did a previous tour in Vietnam in 1969-70. He re-enlisted again in January 1971 and departed for his second tour in Vietnam on February 8, 1971. He was assigned to D Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division as a squad leader. It was during Lamson 719 operation, at Khe Gio Bridge, March 11, 1971, when he was killed during when a rocket landed near him and another soldier. The other soldier sustained a severe wound to his leg which resulted in an amputation. He was killed one month after he had started his second tour.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife of Odessa, his parents of Andrews, his younger brothers were in Vietnam and were all in the same general area in Vietnam. His brother Sam was in the U.S. Navy and his brother Billy Ray was in the Marines. He had a younger sister Mary G. who was still in the home.
Sgt Boykin was buried with full military honors in the Andrews County Cemetery in Andrews, Texas, his boyhood home.