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.