Honor Mission
|
MSG Kevin J. KerrVietnam War Veteran, Persian Gulf War Era
|
US Army, ARNG (Retired) |
Corfu, NY - 06/02/2022 |
| Mission applies to the following Region(s): | Region 1, Region 2 |
| About the Mission: | The Patriot Guard Riders have been requested to stand in honor of the life and service of Master Sergeant Kevin J. Kerr of Tonawanda, NY, who passed away on 16 May 2022 as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. Full military service information is being sorted out, but we know that MSG (E-8) Kerr was credited with a total of 30 years of service - including 27 years of active duty - upon his retirement from the Army National Guard on 31 August 1999. His first term of active duty service was for 3 years from 1968 to 1971, with 11 months of duty in Vietnam assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 38th Artillery Regiment, 5th U.S. Army. Mr. Kerr's MOS was 05C40-Radio & Teletype Operator, and he participated in 3 Vietnam Campaigns. The 2nd term of active duty was for 3 years from 1973 to 1975, with a primary MOS of 11E40-Armor Crewman, and he was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in West Germany. The 3rd term of active duty was for 16 years from 1983 to 1999, with MOS's of 9E40: M48-M60 Armor Crewman and 19Z50: Armor Senior Sergeant. We are unsure of the date, but according to the Lombardo Funeral Home obituary, Mr. Kerr was awarded the Soldiers Medal by former President Jimmy Carter, the highest peacetime award, for saving the crew of a burning tank while removing ammunition. For his 30 years of Army and Army National Guard service, MSG Kerr earned the following awards: Soldier's Medal; Bronze Star Medal; Army Commendation Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters (3 Awards); Army Achievement Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster (2 Awards); Army Good Conduct Medal (2 Awards); Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters (3 Awards); National Defense Service Medal w/1 Service Star (2 Awards); Vietnam Service Medal w/3 Campaign Stars; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon w/Numeral 3; Army Service Ribbon; Army Overseas Service Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation w/Palm; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badges for Rifle and Pistol. Obituary: https://www.tributearchive. |
| Primary Staging Date: | 06/02/2022 |
| Primary Staging Time: | 11:45 |
| AM or PM: | am |
| Staging Location: |
Town of Pembroke Highway Department/Town Office Complex |
| Lead Ride Captain: | Terry Garigen |
| Lead Ride Captain email: | |
| Lead Ride Captain Phone #: | |
| Special Covid-19 Mission Guidelines: |
Updated 8 March 2022Based on the most current COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines: NYS Guidelines of 2 March 2022, and CDC Guidelines of 3 March 2022, going forward, the Lead Ride Captain for any mission will be responsible for determining whether PGR members will have to mask up or not. Please ensure that you have a mask with you, should the need arise, and respect the LRC’s decision in these matters. |
| Special Information: | The PGR will stage with a respectful flag line for the arrival of the family and funeral director. KSU at 12:35 for the escort to WNY National Cemetery, 1254 Indian Falls Rd, Corfu, NY 14036 for the 1:00 PM Interment and Military Honors. Please arrive with a clean 3x5 American or U.S. Army flag, dress for the weather, and ensure your large flags are securely attached. Thank you for devoting your time to help honor the extraordinary military career and Vietnam War service of MSG Kevin J. Kerr, and to support his proud and loving family. |
| Is there a Second Stage to this Mission? | no |
| Submitted by: | Don Higgins, SRC, Region-1 |
| Email of Submitter: | |
| bm - 05/28 | |
