In this recurring special feature, Nonahood News recognizes and honors those everyday heroes who have served or are currently serving our country and making a difference in our community. Those who reside in the Lake Nona and surrounding area are our Nona Heroes.
This month’s hero was born in North Palm Beach and has lived in Orlando and the Lake Nona area for more than 15 years. Meet Kevin Ketchens, a former Army soldier who had hoped to follow in his father’s footsteps by serving our country.
“I joined the U.S. Army out of high school in 1981. I wanted to be a Ranger or Green Beret, like my Father, Bill Ketchens, but at the time the only option available was Airborne-Indirectfire Infantryman (11C) – I chose the Army as my dad had served in World War II and fought before the D-Day invasion, by being part of the 2nd Ranger Battalion that fought through Sicily, Italy, and then into France. The Invasion of Sicily occurred in July of 1943, so my father and his buddies were fighting as Rangers almost a full year ahead of the Normandy invasion. As my father told me, the Allies were trying to make the Germans think that the invasion of France would come through Italy, and the Axis had strengthened the coasts, so it was terrible fighting. The Allies had hoped to create a ‘pincer movement’ by having forces in the south of France and later in the north of France to force the Germans out. I guess the stories of WWII and the pictures around the house of my dad in the Army kind of planted the seed of which branch of service I would join. He liked to say the best memory of WWII was the day he met my mother, Eliane!”
After enlisting, Kevin Ketchens would go through Basic Training in Fort Benning, Ga. Then he would serve with the 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Battalion/505th Airborne Infantry (1/505th) in Fort Bragg, N.C. He began as a Private (E-1) and left the service as a Specialist 4th Class (Spec 4/E-4). “I never bothered looking to get promoted as I was enjoying my life as an enlisted man.”
Ketchens served for three years active and another three years of inactive duty. He reminisces on when he first joined at such a young age. “I was 17 when I joined as my parents had to sign for me to go in the Army. I think they were just happy to have someone else feed and clothe me for awhile! I turned 18 in basic training. I remember we were out in the woods doing training, and it was raining hard. I had managed to sneak away and buy a small package of Oreos (we weren’t allowed to use the vending machines right by our barracks – they called that type of food ‘Pogey Bait’). I had hidden the pack in my socks in my rucksack, and that night on guard duty, in the middle of the night, in a poncho under a downpour of rain, I celebrated the worst birthday I ever had by eating crushed and soggy Oreos! Happy Birthday to me! Yet, it also was one of the best birthday memories I have.”
Although Ketchens hadn’t celebrated his 18th birthday like most teenagers-turning-adults would plan, he had some hope from his father’s military experiences. “My father was the driver of one of four halftracks that had a 75mm cannon on the back. They were like mobile artillery for the infantry. During his time in France, he had pulled into a driveway in Cagnes Sur Mer (near Nice, France). The driveway was cut out of a mountain/hill and provided great protection for the halftrack and crew. It was also in front of a house where my mother and her family lived. During that time in France, they met, fell in love, and later married, so I guess I had a ‘romantic’ view of the military. But truthfully, my father (and mother) raised us with these values: God, family and country. So, I always felt that it was my duty as a citizen to give back in some form to my country – the fact that I would have adventure and also get benefits for the future didn’t hurt, either!”
Serving for the United States comes with many memories, good and bad, but Ketchens focuses on those that furthered his future. “While I only had three years active duty, the memories of that time in the military take up a large part of my life. I was able to graduate from Florida State University thanks to the G.I. Bill and savings I earned during my enlistment. That led me into law enforcement (I was a police officer for eight years with the Vero Beach Police Department and two years with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office) and then into my current job. I would say the best memories I have from the military (besides jumping out of planes and shooting machine guns and mortars) was being part of the American Forces that took part of the invasion of Grenada in 1983. I was fortunate to serve with some great men and helped to liberate an island under hostile control and to help rescue American medical students that were studying on that island. Being in the 82nd Abn. Div. also afforded me the chance to visit Panama (for Jungle School), Israel and Egypt and even see the Sphinx and Pyramids!”
What is this hero up to nowadays in the Nonahood? Kevin Ketchens continues being a hero, both to the public and to his family. “Currently, I work for the Department of Homeland Security. Without getting into specifics, my job is demanding but vital, and I do enjoy that every day is different. I always had a fear that I would get bored sitting behind a desk and doing the same thing day in and day out. The military and police work are the solution to that problem. I am also currently trying to help my wife, Laura Shaffer, with her campaign as she is running for the Circuit Judge position (9th Judicial Court-Group 41) in Osceola and Orange County.”
Some of the best advice Ketchens received during his enlistment was from a Sergeant Major, whose job was to talk to servicemen and women about re-enlistment before exiting the service. “I told him that I didn’t know what I wanted to do but was getting out [of the service] to go to college and get a degree in ‘something.’ He basically told me this: There’s people that do what they love but may not get paid a lot – musicians, actors, teachers, etc. Then there are people who get paid a lot doing something they might not love doing – plumbers, sanitation workers, etc. He said the happiest people are those that are doing what they love and getting paid well to do it – so find what ‘that’ thing is and let that be your guide. Because of that, I am now in a place where I am doing what I love and getting well paid!”
If you would like to nominate someone for our next Nona Heroes feature, please send an email to [email protected] or complete the form here: http://nonahood.to/nonaheroes.
