Manning Baptist Veterans’ Ministry has selected Kenneth Smith as Veteran of the Quarter for July 2014.
Kenneth “Kenny” Smith entered the Military’s Delayed Program in March 1974, while in the 12th grade at Dillon High School. After graduation, Kenny entered Basic Training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1975, he arrived at his first duty station, Fort Clayton, Canal Zone, (Panama) as an infantryman. Kenny was deployed to numerous overseas bases which included Berlin, Germany; Izmir, Turkey; Alaska; Puerto Rico; and Korea. While in Berlin, Germany, he served as a member of the Berlin Brigade’s Honor Guard.
Smith’s stateside tours of duty were Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. While stationed at Fort Jackson, SC, he served as a drill sergeant from 1984-1986.
In 1994, having served twenty years, Kenny retired and went to work in Kuwait, Middle East, where he supported all branches of the military n the Force Protection and Logistic arena. This position gave him a temporary assignment in Kuwait.
In 2012, after eighteen years of employment as a civilian contractor, Kenny returned to Dillon. Immediately upon his return, he became active in the community. His many community activities include volunteering with the Pre-Trial Icntervention Program (a program for first time offenders), fundraiser for the Dillon County Council of the Aging, a member of the Board of Architectural Review, President of the Dillon County Boys’ and Girls’ Youth Center, a member of Wonder Masonic Lodge #459, and a member of Bright Star of the Valley #217 Order of the Eastern Star. He is a 33rd degree Mason (Grand Inspector’s General) and an Imperial Ambassador-at-Large for the Desert of Western Europe for A.E.A.O.N.M.S.
Kenny is married to the former Annie J. Pittman, and they are the parents of two daughters and one son.
We, the Manning Baptist Church Veterans’ Ministry, salute Kenneth Smith for his many years of sacrifice and dedicated services to the United States of America.