Gneral William F. "Buck" Kernan Endorses the Petition Apr 1. 2011 | Comments (0)
General William F. "Buck" Kernan has signed the petition (#7649) for Audie via snail mail. General Kernan is another legend in Special Operations.
He had a distinguished 38 year career, having first enlisted in the Army as a Private and having achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant before earning a commission as a second lieutenant.
General Kernan, served in Vietnam as an enlisted man with the 101st Airborne and was wounded.
Later he served as an exhange student to the British Paratroopers where he commnaded the Brish Parachute Company C, 3rd Paras.
In 1989 led the 75th Ranger Regiment in its combat jump into Panama during Operation "Just Cause."
He has served as Assistant Division Commander, 7th Infantry Division, and then later served as Director of Plans, Policy, and Strategic Assessments, J5, US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
Following that assignment General Kernan served as Commanding General 10st Airborne Division, ending his career as Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps.
He is a holder of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart, British Parachute Wings, the Combat Infantrymans Badge as well as the Master Combat Parachute Badge with bronze star.
He serves on the Board of Directors of a defense contractor and counts amongst his personal friends General Schwarzkopf and General Colin Powell.
Here is his bio, although some of the details (no mention of his enlisted service) are sketchy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_F._Kernan
I am very pleased to have his enorsement as the first "four star" general to sign the petition.