Ken was born in Saginaw, Michigan, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1990. Ken was an infantryman during his first year in the Marines and later passed the indoctrination to qualify for 3rd Marine Recon.
During Ken’s time in Recon, he went through several schools to include Amphibious Reconnaissance School, Airborne School, Sniper School, Scuba School, and was later chosen by his commander to represent Recon and shoot for the Hawaiian Marine Rifle and Pistol Team, where Ken won several matches and received two medals, including the Finn Trophy Pistol Match and a Division Service Medal for first place shooting the M-14.
Ken later left the Marine Corps to finish a college degree in criminal justice. Ken worked for the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department as a recovery diver and Marine Patrol, Birch Run Police Department, and with Bridgeport Police Department because he felt a need to go back into the service post-9/11.
At 38 years old, Ken joined the United States Army in May 2005 as a 19D Cavalry Scout with the 82nd Airborne. Shortly after arriving at Fort Bragg, Ken was sent to assist in the humanitarian effort of Hurricane Katrina with his new command, 3-505 airborne infantry,which later cased their colors and were named 5-73 RSTA reconnaissance, surveillance, target, acquisition.
Ken was then sent to Air Assault School and, upon graduation, he went back to Fort Bragg to train for a 15-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On Ken’s eighth month of deployment, he was wounded from an IED blast, leaving him with ruptured eardrums, a severe concussion, and ruptured discs in his lower back and neck.
Ken was awarded the Purple Heart and he stayed with his platoon for the remaining seven months working as the platoon’s sniper and team leader. Ken sought treatment for his injuries after returning home and was subsequently assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion.
Ken, earning the rank of sergeant, received a medical retirement from the Army in August 2010 and is currently living in Florida with his family.
Painting has helped Ken by giving him a chance to put his thoughts and experiences on canvas.
Ken's favorite type of art is minimalism: black and white, using acrylic paint. He likes to paint people who are inspirational. For example, actors, veterans, presidents, and comic book heroes.
