O'Donnell graduated from high school during World War II and then served in the U.S. Army Air Forces ( 1942 – 1945 ) , where he flew 30 missions as a bombardier in a B-17 squadron before being shot down over Belgium . " He was imprisoned , escaped , and emerged with the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters . " Following the war , he studied at Harvard College ( 1946 – 1949 ) and met Robert F. Kennedy , where they were roommates as well as teammates on the Harvard football team ; O'Donnell became team captain in 1948 . The two remained close friends until Kennedy 's assassination in 1968
assassination
Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
Kenneth O'Donnell