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Today's Featured Biography

Kenneth Hamm

Wow, where do I start? Originally married in 1982 while on my second tour in Guam, (Kenny, Travis & Allyson from marriage), I divorced in 2003. I remarried on July 2, 2005 (a 'Harley' wedding hosted by our dearest friends and riding partners) to my wonderful wife, Dawn (Garrett & Dylan are hers). Hana, well that's another story - long story short, she lives in Japan with her mom. Dawn and I met on the Internet of all places while I was stationed in Yuma AZ (affectionately known as the "armpit of the West" or more appropriately "next door to Hell") waiting to retire. Honest to God true story, I was sporadically dating a woman named 'Dusk' when I met 'Dawn' and the difference is truly night and day. My oldest son, Kenny, is on his second enlistment in the Air Force (stationed here at Luke AFB in Glendale AZ) and he and his wife, Cyndi, have made us proud grandparents (for the love of God, don't refer to Dawn as "grandma") to 2. He has his degree in criminal justice and wants to work for a local PD after this enlistment.

After 25 years in the Marine Corps (Cardo Urso and I drunkenly enlisted together - it was all his fault ... really), I retired in 2003 as a Master Sergeant. I never saw it coming and it happened in the blink of an eye, trust me. For those that remember any of my high school antics, a career in the Corps was totally out of character for me. Overcoming "What in God's name have we done?", the Corps undeniably kicked my skinny, good fer nuttin', ass into shape and I had ironically found my niche. Surviving boot camp and ears that resembled overcooked bacon (funny how the South Carolina sun fries 'em up after years of hiding them under what you thought was a cool hair style), I spent over 15 years overseas - 11 1/2 of that in Japan. "I didn't enlist to go home" was my motto. My most recent return from Japan was in 2001 after 7 1/2 years. I really liked Japan, can you tell? I also served as administrator to the World reknowned "President's Own" U.S. Marine Band in Washington DC for 3+ years in the mid-90's. Yes, as unbelievable as it may seem, I am the same Ken Hamm you went to South High with.

Shortly after retiring, Dawn and I opened Jalopy Jacuzzi, an auto detailing business. We sold that (and her salon) in 2006 (after repeated 'investigative' calls from the local Jacuzzi patriarch - seems we violated a trademark of sorts - he did get over it though). I have since worked as a small business consultant and part-time Internet sales (ebay user ID harleyween). I'm presently doing the "honey-do" list (damn, it's long) and resaling pimped out GEM cars. For all intensive purposes, I am officially retired (again, don't tell Dawn!). Dawn, an RN, works as a Legal Nurse Consultant when she's not keeping me alive and healthy (or lengthening the "honey-do").

My 1977 "Claim to Fame": I was at the July 6, 1977 Pink Floyd concert in Montreal (with 89,999 other "inebriated" fools) where the infamous "spitting" incident (which resulted in Roger Waters conceptualizing The Wall) took place. Who Was Trained Not To Spit On The Fan? I remember nothing from that fateful day (and this is unusual how?) except that there was a big flying pig involved at some point. I only possess this tidbit of historical knowledge cuz I read it on the Internet over 31 years later.

Anxiously awaiting the next reunion ....

Enjoy!!

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