Despite challenges, both say they remember their time serving the country positively. Author: Andrea Flores Updated: 8:49 AM CST February 23, 2021
Former Rock Island Alderman Jim Kerr is reflecting on his time in the military. He served in the Air Force from 1961 to 1965, enlisting during the Vietnam War and working as an air craft rescue firefighter.
He remembers historical times like the Cuban Missile Crisis, and he recalls exciting moments in his career We were all in the station, waiting for all hell to break lose (and) watching the TV. Then all of a sudden, we see those ships start turning. (It was) unbelievable, Kerr says. (During the Cuban Missile crisis,) I was honored to be sent to Colorado when President John F. Kennedy visited an air base as a firefighter.