Ken Summers
Web Sergeant - Marines

My name is Kenneth R. Summers Jr., and I am a United States Marine Corps Veteran.  I joined the Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program when I was a Junior at Santa Rita High School in Tucson, AZ.  I went to Boot Camp on November 7, 1995, at MCRD San Diego (2nd Battalion, Golf Co. 2062) and I graduated on January 26, 1996. I then attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, CA, and my Military Occupational Specialty School, which was 0151 (Administrative Clerk) at Camp Johnson, NC.

I was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Tustin and MCAS Miramar and attached to Marine Aircraft Group 16, Head Quarters Personnel Support Detachment, from 1996 to 1999, where we closed MCAS Tustin due to Base Realignment and Closures and opened Miramar as a Marine Corps Air Station.  While I was there, I worked as a Travel and Orders clerk, and then transitioned into a Chaplains Assistant.  While stationed at MCAS Tustin I was assigned temporarily to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, Marine Air Weapons Training Squadron 1 at MCAS Yuma, and the Flight Line Chaplains office’s at MCAS EL Toro and MCAS Miramar.

After being Honorably Discharged under Medical Conditions on October 15, 1999, and after my wife, Tammie, completed her active-duty service in August of 2000, we moved back to Tucson, AZ. During this time, I volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and Cookie Dad, Cub Master and Scout Master, and 4-H photography leader.  We left Tucson in 2011 and moved to Murfreesboro, AR to help take care of my wife’s elderly parents and grandmother. From 2011 through 2019, I became the Murfreesboro High School Band Booster President for 5 years, the Athletic Booster President for 1 year, and oversaw the High School’s Band’s Football Concession Stand for 5 years and Athletic Department’s Baseball Concession Stand for 1 year and Basketball Concession Stand for 9 years.

 In 2021 my wife and I both became members of the Marine Corps League (MCL) Texarkana Detachment #1149. In July of 2021 I was appointed as the Web-Sergeant, in September 2021 I was also appointed as Paymaster. In January of 2022 I was elected as Adjutant, Paymaster, and Web-Sergeant. In July of 2022 I was appointed as Senior-Vice Commandant.  In October of 2022 I was moved into the Commandant position.  In December 2022, I was re-elected as Commandant.

In April of 2022, I was appointed the Southern Division Web-Sergeant, a MCL National Officer.  In May of 2022, I was appointed Web-Sergeant and Adjutant for the MCL Department of Arkansas (State). In May of 2023, I was reappointed as the Web-Sergeant and Adjutant for the MCL Department of Arkansas.

In May of 2022, I joined the Military Order of the Devil Dogs River Valley Pound #346, Fort Smith AR, where I earned the Degree of Pup. In March of 2023, I earned the Degree of Devil Dog. In April of 2023 I was appointed Barking Dog and Mad Dog.

In May of 2023, I was nominated to become part of the Arkansas Military Veteran’s Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and then was elected in August 2023, where I am now the current Secretary.

I am also a member of the American Legion Post 58 in Texarkana, AR, and I have been a Life-member of the Disabled American Veterans for 23 years.

I believe in serving my country and my community, as was taught to me by my family.  My grandfathers served in World War II, my uncle served in Vietnam, my father and uncles were Arizona Highway Patrolmen, one grandmother worked for U. S. Postal Service, my mother and other grandmother worked for their local high schools.