Kenneth Walter Jurgens was my father, and I want to share his accomplishments with my family.
Young Family Life
Kenneth was born on June 26, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Hans Henry Jurgens and Mildred Emily Baker. Unfortunately, they divorced before he was two years old. While his mother worked, he was raised by his grandmother, Elisabeth Reichel Baker, who spoiled him. His father kept in contact with him, visiting when he could even though he lived out-of-state.
July 2, 1932
Schooling
Kenneth attended St. Odilio Catholic elementary school in Berwyn, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago on the west side.
Kenneth was attracted to the military from a young age. For junior high school, he attended the Junior Military Academy in Chicago. It was located on Greenwood Avenue in Chicago's South Side.
J. Sterling Morton High School in Cicero, Illinois, is where Kenneth attended from 1943-46. He did not graduate. Later, in 1964, he completed his high school GED.
Kenneth is in the second row on the right
The Junior Military Academy basketball team. Kenneth is in the back row on the left.
The Junior Military Academy football team. Kenneth is in the back row behind the boy over the trophy.
Modeling
Kenneth had some professional photographs taken with the objective of possibly being a model.
Military Career
Kenneth entered National Guard Reserve Service on March 11, 1948. On the papers in our files, Kenneth was listed as an active duty guard from July 21, 1948 until August 7, 1948, and again from September 27, 1948 to December 13, 1948. He completed the Course D for Cooks at the Food Service School at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, on December 13, 1948. On October 26, 1949, he completed the Mess Management Course at the 5th Army Food Service School at Fort Sheridan. (These are surprising facts as he never cooked at home.) He was again listed as an active duty guard from April 8, 1949 to November 29, 1949, and again from August 16, 1950 to September 3, 1950. His title was Mess Sergeant.
When Kenneth was not on active duty, he also worked as a photo engraver, according to his daughter's birth certificate from September, 1950.
Kenneth was discharged on January 8, 1951. His discharge papers show his civilian occupation prior to enlistment was as a bartender at Mildred's Tap, 7319 N. Paulina St., Chicago, Illinois. This was the bar that was owned and run by his mother's family. His mother's name was Mildred.
On January 9, 1951, Kenneth began his active duty as a private in the United States Air Force. He completed his basic training in San Antonio, Texas. His title was USAF Air Policeman from January 9, 1951 to July 15, 1960. He was listed as 5 feet 11 inches, weighing 158 pounds.
He served as Air Police at the 3734 Training Squadron, 3710 BMTG, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, from January 23, 1951 to March 25, 1951. He was promoted to Private First Class on March 16, 1951, and served as Air Police at the 2702 Food Service Squadron at Lackland AFB from March 26, 1951 to January 5, 1952. On August 11, 1951 he was promoted to Corporal. From January 6, 1952 until February 21, 1952, Kenneth was at Camp Stoneman in Pittsburg, California, at the 2349 Pers Processing Group AF.
Kenneth's first overseas assignment was at Andersen AFB in Guam at the 19th Food Service Squadron, 19th AB Group. He served there from February 2, 1952 until February 1, 1953. He spent one week after overseas duty at Travis AFB in Solano, CA, at the 1501 Her Port Sq, 1502 AT Group. He was promoted to Airman Second Class on April 1, 1952, and Airman First Class on June 1, 1952.
After three weeks in the hospital for a fungus infection at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas, Kenneth's next assignment was at the 2750 Food Service Squadron at Sheppard AFB from March 2, 1953 to September 30, 1954. His second daughter was born in March 1954. Then on October 1, 1954 until January 20, 1955, he served in the 37750 USAF Hospital and 3750 Food Service Squadron at Sheppard AFB.
Kenneth re-enlisted on January 9, 1955. Then on January 21, 1955, he was reassigned to Pinecastle AFB in Orlando, Florida, at the 813th APRON, Pass & ID job, where he served until May 15, 1955. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant E-5 on April 1, 1955.
After one week at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey, Kenneth received another overseas assignment to Sidi Silmane Air Base in French Morocco. He served as an Air Policeman for the 3906th Air Police Squadron, 5th Aviation Depot Squadron from May 23, 1955 to June 15, 1957. During his duty there he fell off a high guard platform and broke his leg. And also during this duty, he was awarded Top Secret Security Clearance on April 3, 1957, by BI, 4th OSI Dist OSI, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C. His third daughter was born at Port Lyautey Navy Base in French Morocco (now the city of Kenitra) in May 1956.
Sidi Slimane Air Base was an historically significant U.S. Cold War strategic facility before being fully transferred to Morocco in 1963. It was built in 1951 and initially used by the Strategic Air Command (SAC) of the U.S. Air Force as a forward deployment base for B-29 Superfortress units deployed from the U.S. The facilities expanded to include B-47 Stratojets and B-36 Peacemaker bombers. The base was one of three SAC bases (Boulhaut, Sidi Slimane, and Nouasseur) constructed in Morocco in response to the heightened Cold War fears by NATO after the Korean War.
Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco and other military bases
Kenneth's next assignment was at Homestead AFB in Homestead, Florida at the 823 APRON, for a Security NCO job, where he served from June 16, 1957 to June 29, 1958. During this time he had a TDY (temporary duty) trip to Sidi Slimane, Morocco from October 6-15, 1957.
Kenneth re-enlisted on May 15, 1958, and was assigned overseas to Thule AFB in Greenland at the 4083 APRON, in an Air Policeman job from June 30, 1958 until June 10, 1959. While he was in Greenland, his son was born in January 1959 at Homestead, Florida.
Greenland, 1958
On July 25, 1959, Kenneth became an Air Policeman at Fairchild, AFB, Spokane, Washington, that lasted until July 15, 1960. He completed a Marksmanship Instructor Course in rifle and pistol at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas, from July to October 1960. Next he was a Small Arms Instructor and Small Arms Tech from 1960 until November 26, 1962. Then NCOIC Small Arms Range Instructor until May 7, 1964, and Assistant NCOIC for the Firing Range until February 7, 1965. His fourth daughter was born at Fairchild, Washington in December 1961.
Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington
Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington
Kenneth was a Small Arms Instructor and Base Rifle Training Instructor from December 27, 1960 until May 14, 1966. He attended the Small Arms Firing School at the 6th US Army Division (weapon, rifle, M-1) at Fort Lewis, Washington from April 6-10, 1961. He received a Master classification, Lifetime Master, by the National Rifle Association on April 28, 1961. He completed the Fundamentals of Military Justice Course QM 24 (ECI) in 1962.
Kenneth re-enlisted on May 15, 1962. He completed the Management Course for AF Supervisors 0006 (ECI) in 1965. From February 8, 1965 to February 17, 1968, he was assigned to Torrejon AFB, Madrid, Spain, in the 401 CSG and 401 Supply Squadrons). The family didn't arrive until June 6, 1965.
On May 15, 1966, Kenneth re-enlisted. He was promoted to Technical Sergeant on December 1, 1966. Then on March 28, 1967, he was awarded First Sergeant Air Force Specialty. Following his duty in Spain, Kenneth was assigned to Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois in the 3369th Student Squadron, serving there until November 30, 1968.
Torrejon AFB, Madrid, Spain
On December 1, 1968, Kenneth was sent to Vietnam at Bien Hoa Air Base in the 3rd Supply Squadron, where he served until December 1, 1969. Following his return from Vietnam, Kenneth took M-16 rifle training at Mather AFB in Mather, California on December 15, 1969.
On May 1, 1969, Kenneth was promoted to Master Sergeant E-7. He undertook the USAF Courier Service Indoctrination/Security Course in Alexandria, Virginia, from December 15, 1969 to January 15, 1970. He was then transferred to Clark AFB in the Philippines. The family arrived in June, 1970.
On October 18, 1971, Kenneth re-enlisted. Because this was beyond his twenty years of service, it required recommendations. After his re-enlistment, he continued at Clark AFB in the Philippines at the 6200 Munitions Maintenance PAF Squadron from August 8, 1971 to December 30, 1971. On December 31, 1971, he became part of the 405 Munition Maintenance Squadron until February 28, 1973. In the spring of 1972, Kenneth passed the Psychology course at Eastern Washington State College in Cheney, Washington.
From October 1972 until December 31, 1972, Kenneth was assigned to top secret courier duty. He had orders to fly four times a month from Clark AFB, Philippines, to Thailand (Ubon AFB, Udorn AFB, Korat AB, U-Tapao Airfield, Nakhon Phanom Airfield, Don Muang Airfield) and Vietnam (Tan Son Nhut Airfield). Each trip was two days. On March 1, 1973, he served as the Small Arms Supt., of the 405 Combat Support Group PAF at Clark AFB, Philippines. On April12, 1973, that Squadron received the award of Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation for exceptionally meritorious service in support of military operations.
Kenneth's last assignment was to George AFB in Victorville, California from October 11, 1973 to July 31, 1974. He retired as a Master Sergeant from the USAF on August 1, 1974, after serving 24 years, six months, and 18 days of active service. He received his honorable discharge from AF Reserves on April 19, 1978.
Awards
Here are the awards listed in Kenneth's military records.
16 Jul 1952 Awarded Korean Service Medal
8 Jan 1955 Awarded Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon
8 Jan 1955 Awarded United Nations Service Medal
8 Jan 1955 Awarded National Defense Service Medal
13 Feb 1957 Awarded Good Conduct Medal (bronze with three loops)
8 Jan 1959 Awarded Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon
1960 Awarded Air Force Outstanding United Award
5 Apr 1960 Awarded Good Conduct Medal
8 Jan 1962 Awarded Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon
26 Nov 1962 Awarded Small Arms Tech Air Force Specialty
1963 Awarded Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
10 Jun 1963 Awarded Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
8 Jan 1966 Awarded Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon
4 Mar 1966 Awarded Air Force Good Conduct Medal
30 Oct 1969 Awarded AF Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service (see below)
15 Jul 1969 Squadron awarded Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm for
Meritorious service
14 Feb 1975 Awarded USAF Non-Nat’l Excellence-in-Competition Bronze Rifle Certificate
for outstanding marksmanship accomplishment during the Regional Service
Rifle Match held at Phoenix, AZ on 28 Apr 1974. This was after his retirement.
Kenneth's Commendation Medal, awarded on October 30, 1969, had the following citation:
Master Sergeant Kenneth W. Jurgens distinguished himself by meritorious service as First Sergeant, 3rd Supply Squadron, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Republic of Vietnam, from 3 December 1968 to 1 December 1969. During this period, Sergeant Jurgens brought to this important position a vast amount of leadership and personal dedication, which directly improved the overall mission accomplishment, discipline, morals and welfare of all personnel. While continually faced with adverse conditions of heat, rain, primitive facilities and the ever present threat of hostile fire, Sergeant Jurgens' contribution and outstanding ability played a significant role in the success of the Free World's mission in Southeast Asia. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Jurgens reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Third place win for High-Power Rifle
Article related to above photo
Reflections on Being in a Military Family
Imagine having no place to call home. My family moved every two or three years, even to foreign countries where there was no sense of normalcy. Mid-year relocations were common, and I attended ten schools before graduating from high school. This is the life of a military brat.
Each new location meant adjusting to a new school and making new friends. If you were lucky enough to move to base housing, making friends was easier because everyone was in the same boat. At the start of school each year, however, one-third to one-half of your classmates disappeared and new faces appeared. Friendships were superficial because of the fleeting amount of time spent together. We never knew when someone would be gone without a warning. Military brats learned to let go of attachments quickly. Nothing was permanent.
Military family life differed for everyone, but there were some commonalities. Military fathers were indoctrinated into a life of discipline and rootlessness. They were required to be ready at the drop of a hat to go on special assignments that could last up to a year and maybe even to war. My father served three one-year tours in Guam, Greenland, and Vietnam without the family. This was a huge sacrifice for everyone involved.
Obedience and respect for authority were necessary. Showing signs of compassion didn't fit the macho persona of a soldier. Military fathers didn't learn to be tolerant of misbehavior, which children exhibited while growing up. In my house, dinner with Dad at the table was a time of tension and fear because we children didn't sit quietly and eat all our food properly. We were often reprimanded. The youngest usually ended up crying. Dinnertime was the only time we interacted with Dad, though he often wasn't home at mealtimes. Holiday meals were never happy memories in our house until all the children reached adulthood.
Fortunately, my mother was loving, though with five children it was hard for her to provide necessary guidance to each child individually. My father ruled the roost, and my mother succumbed to his dictates.
My father had a biting sense of humor. His jokes were often at the expense of others. This was hard on my brother, who had a sensitive personality and didn't feel like he lived up to the macho ideal my father envisioned for his son.
Dad had an amazing memory, especially for numbers. This helped him develop his poker ability. While living in Spain, he played poker not only with other military friends but also with celebrities who were filming spaghetti westerns there. This included many cast members from The Return of the Seven, including Yul Brynner.
One story I learned about my father from a classmate I reconnected with at a Madrid High School reunion involved the use of the general's airplane. My friend's father was the commander of the airport on base. My father was friends with the general's pilot, and a couple of times he and my father flew to Italy or Morocco where they bought items they would re-sell in Spain. I remember my father surprised me with several angora sweaters in different colors purchased in Italy.
The best memory I have of my father was when my father surprised me with a ticket to a Beatles concert. I had just arrived in Spain in June of 1965. It was a year after I watched them on the Ed Sullivan Show. Dad remembered the Beatles posters I had hung on my walls at our previous home. The posters were thrown away, however, as only bare necessities were packed to our next location.
The Beatles, who wore look-alike suits at the time, were playing in the Madrid bullring. Attendance was small, mostly Americans from the military base and children of foreign dignitaries. The Spanish people were very poor at the time while living under Franco rule and either couldn't afford a ticket or were uninterested in music from England.
My father arranged for an older boy to accompany me and my sister to the concert. I remember being reserved as I was in the mode of adjusting to a new location and new people. To this day, I appreciate my father's gesture. My mother always said my father cared about us but just didn't know how to show it.
My father softened after retirement. My younger sibling witnessed our father being a helpmate to our mother late in his life, doing difficult chores like caring for my bedridden youngest sister so my mother could work and earn her social security benefits. He never expected his life wouldn't be long when he opted at retirement to take his maximum benefits while alive and forego any pension to his wife after his death. Fortunately, Mom had children who helped support her.
A positive thing about growing up as a military brat is that I developed a keen interest in other cultures. Many military brats become wanderers during their adult lives, although they often feel strong patriotism for the United States. We witnessed a lot of military parades, fireworks shows, and air shows with jets flying in formation overhead. For me, growing up without a place to call home and after living in many places, I recognized a feeling that I am a citizen of the world.
Retirement and Hobbies
After retiring from the USAF, my family lived in San Antonio, Texas. I had already flown the coop.
Kenneth enjoyed playing golf with retired military friends and fulfilled his dream of playing golf at Pebble Beach Golf Course in Carmel, California.
Pebble Beach, Carmel, California
He also took auto mechanics classes at St. Philip's College in San Antonio, Texas. He passed the Auto Emission Control and Basic Electrical System courses in the Fall of 1976. In the Spring of 1977, he completed courses on Auto Fuel Systems, Introduction to the Chassis, and Auto Trans I. In the Summer of 1977, he passed College Math I, Applied Psychology, and Small Business Management courses.
Kenneth was an avid poker player, and in the latter part of the 1970's he moved the family to Las Vegas where he got a job as a poker dealer. After a big poker loss, however, they returned to San Antonio about two years later.
Adult Family Life
On a motorcycle racetrack, 1947
Dating
Kenneth married Barbara Jane Lomas at Waukegan, Illinois on May 28, 1949, before a Justice of the Peace. They had five children, four daughters and one son.
1957, Morocco
December 1965, Madrid, Spain
Death
Kenneth died on January 5, 1993, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 63. The cause of death was either a stroke or heart attack, although he had an advanced case of lung cancer at the time. He was a lifetime smoker. His burial was at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Section 21, Site 629, on January 8, 1993. Later, his wife and youngest daughter were buried with him.
At Dad's funeral, I had tears, not because we were close, but suddenly the opportunity to become closer was lost. I am still gripped by an achy feeling whenever I hear the familiar "Taps," which is the sorrowful tune belted out by a bugle at military funerals.
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