As with many modern veterans, Kenneth’s military service is invariably linked to 9/11. He began his Marine training in August of 2001 and was in bootcamp the day of September 11th. He describes how an already intense environment, became even more so following the terrorist attack on New York. From that point on, Kenneth would be deployed over seas in locations like Spain, Iraq, and Kuwait where he would be assigned to a modicum of jobs in different areas of conflict. On January 30th, 2005, he worked a history detail as he was one of the poll workers for Iraq’s first public election. That morning he woke up to the distinctive whistle of a rocket that was targeting the polling location near the barracks he was scheduled to work later that day. Despite the best efforts of those attempting to prevent Iraq’s first public election, Kenneth was relocated to a different polling location and was able to be a part of Iraqi citizens experiencing democracy for the first time in their lives. 

While deployed, Kenneth experienced long periods of duty in active combat zones serving many different functions in each of his stops. On experience that stands out to him even now is when the service brought him to the city of Babylon, a location that always held significance to him due to his faith. His troop’s interpreter, Ned was originally from the city and was able to take him to places only those native to the city could access, offering him his own oasis while in active duty.  

Kenneth’s connection to BFCU started when he procured an Auto Loan which he later refinanced. We love having Kenneth as a member, when comparing the service between BCFCU and other banks he said, “It is just an easier transaction verses going to somewhere else where they look at you like, ‘who are you and why should I give you this loan, whereas with BFCU the approach is ‘okay we are going to look up what you qualify for and make it happen.” We value him as a member and thank him for is long history of this Veteran’s Day.