I Served Too - K K K K

Bob Kalsu RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	All-American tackle at the University of Oklahoma and an eighth-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League in 1968. He was a starting guard in 1968. He played the entire season and was the Bills' team rookie-of-the-year. Following the 1968 season, to satisfy his Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) obligation, he entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant and arrived in Vietnam in November 1969 as part of the 101st Airborne Division. He was killed in action on July 21, 1970 when his unit came under enemy mortar fire at FSB Ripcord near the A Shau Valley.
Steve Kanaly RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American actor, best known for his role as Ray Krebbs, foreman of the Southfork Ranch, on the television soap opera Dallas from 1978 to 1989. He reprised the role for the final episode of the series in 1991, and again for the made-for-TV reunion movie Dallas: War of the Ewings in 1998. During Dallas' run, he also guested in other series, including Time Express in 1979. From 1994 to 1995, he also had a role on the ABC daytime drama series All My Children as "Seabone Hunkle". Served in Vietnam as a radio operator with the First Air Cavalry Division.
Darwood Kaye RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American child actor, most notable for his semi-regular role as the snooty rich kid Waldo in the Our Gang short subjects series from 1937 to 1940. Minor roles in other films included the musical Best Foot Forward with Lucille Ball and Kansas City Kitty, playing the role of "Killer" in both. As an adult, Smith became a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, ministering at several churches until his accidental death in 2002. Served for 18 months around the late 1940s or early 1950s.
Buster Keaton RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face". Served during WW1.
Bob Keeshan RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Marine Corps	American television producer and actor. He is most famous as the title character of the children's television program Captain Kangaroo, which became an icon for millions of people during its 30-year run from 1955 to 1984. Keeshan also played the original "Clarabell the Clown" on the Howdy Doody television program. In 1945, during WW2, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, but was still in the U.S. when Japan surrendered.
Harvey Keitel RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Marine Corps	American actor. Some of his more noteable starring roles were in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, Ridley Scott's The Duellists and Thelma and Louise, Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Jane Campion's The Piano, Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant, James Mangold's Cop Land, Nicolas Roeg's Bad Timing, and Theo Angelopoulos's Ulysses' Gaze (which TIME Magazine called one of the Top 100 Films of All Time). At the age of 16, he decided to join the service, a decision that took him to Lebanon, during Operation Blue Bat in 1958.
Brian Keith RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Marine Corps	American film, television, and stage actor who in his four decade-long career gained recognition for his work in movies such as the 1961 Disney family film The Parent Trap, the 1966 comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and the 1975 adventure saga The Wind and the Lion, in which he portrayed Theodore Roosevelt. On television, two of his best known roles were that of a widowed uncle turned bachelor: Bill Davis, in the 1960s sitcom Family Affair, and a tough judge in the 1980s drama Hardcastle and McCormick. Served during WW2 as an air gunner in the rear cockpit of a two-man Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bomber in the Pacific Theater and received an Air Medal.
DeForest Kelley RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army Air Forces	American actor known for his iconic roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the television and film series Star Trek. Kelley's acting career began with the feature film Fear in the Night (1947). By the mid-1950s he started to appear in many films: House of Bamboo (1955), Illegal (1955), The View from Pompey's Head (1955), Tension at Table Rock (1956), The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), and Raintree County (1957). For nine years, Kelley primarily played villains. He built up an impressive list of credits, alternating between television and motion pictures. Served in WW2 as an enlisted man in a bomber between March 10, 1943, and January 28, 1946.
Mike Kellin RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Navy	American actor. He was most often cast as tough guys, both good and evil. He made his Broadway debut in 1949 in At War with the Army and eventually earned a Tony nomination in 1956 for his acting in the Musical Pipe Dream. Kellin also played in an episode on Lost in Space "The Deadly Games Of Gamma 6" as Myko. Served as a Lieutenant Commander during WW2.
Brian Kelly RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Marine Corps	American actor best known for his role as Porter Ricks, the widowed father of two sons on the NBC television series Flipper, and as Scott Ross in the ABC advernture series Straightaway, with co-star John Ashley. Served in the Korean War.
Gene Kelly RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Navy	American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer. Kelly was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style, his good looks and the likeable characters that he played on screen. Although he is known today for his performances in Singin' in the Rain and An American in Paris, he was a dominant force in Hollywood musical films from the mid 1940s until this art form fell out of fashion in the late 1950s. At the end of 1944, Kelly enlisted in the U.S. Naval Air Service and was commissioned as lieutenant junior grade. He was stationed in the Photographic Section, Washington D.C., where he was involved in writing and directing a range of documentaries, and this stimulated his interest in the production side of film-making.
George Kennedy RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American actor who has appeared in over 200 film and television productions. He is perhaps most familiar as the convict Dragline in Cool Hand Luke (for which he won an Academy Award), airline troubleshooter Joe Patroni in the Airport series of disaster movies from the 1970s and as Captain Ed Hocken in the Naked Gun series of comedy films. Spent 16 years in the service seeing combat in WW2 with Patton's Third Army in the European Theater. He later worked in the Armed Forces radio.
Percy Kilbride RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American character actor. The son of Irish immigrants, he made a career of playing country hicks, most memorably as Pa Kettle in the Ma and Pa Kettle series of feature films. He first played an 18th-century French dandy in A Tale of Two Cities. His film debut was as "Jakey" in White Woman (1933). He left Broadway for good in 1942. In 1945, he appeared in The Southerner. Served in WW1. He was a private in Company B, 317 Infantry, 80th Division in France.
Joyce Kilmer RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American journalist, poet, literary critic, lecturer, and editor. Though a prolific poet whose works celebrated the common beauty of the natural world as well as his religious faith, Kilmer is remembered most for a short poem entitled "Trees" (1913), which was published in the collection Trees and Other Poems in 1914. While most of his works are unknown, a select few of his poems remain popular and are published frequently in anthologies. Several critics, both Kilmer's contemporaries and modern scholars, disparaged Kilmer's work as being too simple, overly sentimental, and suggested that his style was far too traditional, even archaic. In April 1917, Kilmer enlisted in the Seventh Regiment of the New York National Guard. In August, Kilmer was initially assigned as a statistician with the U.S. 69th Infantry Regiment, of the 42nd "Rainbow" Division, and quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant. Though he was eligible for commission as an officer and often recommended for such posts during the course of the war, Kilmer refused stating that he would rather be a sergeant in the Fighting 69th than an officer in any other regiment. Kilmer sailed to Europe with his regiment on October 31, 1917, arriving in France two weeks later. Kilmer sought more hazardous duty and was transferred to the Regimental Intelligence Section, in April 1918. During the Second Battle of Marne, there was heavy fighting throughout the last days of July 1918, and on July 30, 1918, Kilmer volunteered to accompany Major William "Wild Bill" Donovan when Donovan's Battalion (1-165th Infantry) was sent to lead the day's attack. During the course of the day, Kilmer led a scouting party to find the position of a German machine gun. When his comrades found him, some time later, they thought at first that he was peering over the edge of a little hill, where he had crawled for a better view. When he did not answer their call, they ran to him and found him dead. According to Father Duffy: “A bullet had pierced his brain. His body was carried in and buried by the side of Ames. God rest his dear and gallant soul. Kilmer died, likely immediately, from a sniper's bullet to the head near Muercy Farm, beside the Ourcq River near the village of Seringes-et-Nesles, in France, on July 30, 1918 at the age of 31. For his valor, Kilmer was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre (War Cross) by the French Republic.
Aron Kincaid RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Coast Guard Reserve	American actor perhaps best known for playing Killer Croc on Batman: The Animated Series and Sky Lynx on The Transformers. He also voiced characters for The Smurfs, and DuckTales, among others. In his later years he also had careers as a model and an artist. Kincaid appeared in the 1965 comedy "The Girls on the Beach" and had roles in "Beach Ball" and "Ski Party," and made what was billed as a "guest appearance" in "Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine." His other film roles include the Disney musical "The Happiest Millionaire," "The Proud and the Damned" and a cameo in the slasher film Silent Night, Deadly Night. He also made guest appearances on TV series such as "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Get Smart" before moving to San Francisco in the early 1970s and launching a successful career as a model. Following graduation from UCLA in 1962, Aron enlisted in the Reserves.
Richard Kline RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American actor and television director. He is best known for playing the sleazy neighbor and used car salesman, Larry Dallas, on the sitcom, Three's Company. Served in the Vietnam War.
Jack Klugman RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American stage, film, and television actor known for his roles in sitcoms, movies, television, and on Broadway. He is perhaps best-known for his role as actor Tony Randall's sloppy roommate Oscar Madison in the American television series The Odd Couple during the 1970s and for his starring role in Quincy, M.E. in the 1970s and 1980s. Served in WW2.
Ron Kovic RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American writer who was paralyzed in the Vietnam War. He is best known as the author of the memoir Born on the Fourth of July, which was made into an Academy Award–winning movie directed by Oliver Stone, with Tom Cruise playing Kovic. Kovic received the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay which he co-wrote with Stone. Volunteered for his first tour of duty and was deployed to Vietnam in December 1965 as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines H&S Company. In June 1966, he volunteered for First Reconnaissance Battalion where he participated in 22 long range reconnaissance patrols in enemy territory. He returned home on January 15, 1967 after a 13 month tour of duty, and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point, North Carolina. Several months later he volunteered to return to Vietnam a second time. On January 20, 1968, while leading an attack on a village just north of the Cua Viet River in the Demilitarized Zone, he was shot while leading his squad across an open area. He was shot first in the right foot, which blew out the back of his heel, then again through the right shoulder, suffering a collapsed lung and a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down. The first Marine that tried to save him was shot through the heart and killed, then a second Marine carried Kovic to safety through heavy enemy fire. He then spent a week in an intensive care ward in Da Nang. He was awarded the Bronze Star with "V" device for valor and the Purple Heart.
Evel Knievel RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket. The 37 broken bones he suffered during his career earned an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the survivor of "most bones broken in a lifetime. Served in the late 1950s. His athletic ability allowed him to join the track team where he was a pole vaulter.
Ted Knight RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American actor best known for playing the comedic role of Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Henry Rush on Too Close for Comfort, and Judge Elihu Smails in Caddyshack. Served in WW2 as a member of A Company, 296th Engineer Combat Battalion, earning five battle stars while serving in the European Theatre.
Don Knotts RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards. Knotts went on to star in a series of film comedies which drew on his high-strung persona from the TV series: he had a cameo appearance in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), and starred in The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), The Love God? (1969) and How to Frame a Figg (1971). He also played landlord Ralph Furley on the 1970s television sitcom Three's Company. Served in WW2 and spent most of his service entertaining troops.
Harvey Korman RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Navy	American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960. His big break was being a featured performer on The Danny Kaye Show, but he is best remembered for his performances on the sketch comedy series The Carol Burnett Show and in several films by Mel Brooks, most notably as Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles. His early television work included voice-over work as the Great Gazoo on The Flintstones. He appeared on numerous television programs, including the role of Blake in the 1964 episode Who Chopped Down the Cherry Tree?. From 1964 to 1966, he appeared three times in consecutive years on The Munsters. His film roles inlcude Huckleberry Finn (1974), High Anxiety (1977), Herbie Goes Bananas (1980), History of the World, Part I (1981), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), and Munchies (1987). In later years he did voice work for The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue. In his final Mel Brooks film he starred as the zany Dr. Seward in the 1995 film Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Served in WW2.
Kris Kristofferson RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as Me and Bobby McGee, Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down, and Help Me Make It Through the Night. He appeared in Blume in Love and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. He continued acting, in Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, Convoy (1978), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Vigilante Force, and A Star Is Born, for which he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. In the 1980s he partnered with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash to form the supergroup The Highwaymen. In 2004 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Lone Star (1996) reinvigorated Kristofferson's acting career, and he soon appeared in Blade, Blade II, Blade: Trinity, A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries, Fire Down Below, Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes, Chelsea Walls, Payback, The Jacket and Fast Food Nation. Served from 1960 to 1965 and achieved the rank of Captain. He became a helicopter pilot after receiving flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He also completed Ranger School. During the early 1960s, he was stationed in West Germany as a member of the 8th Infantry Division. He volunteered for Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, but instead was offered a professor of English Literature position at USMA West Point. Disappointed that he was not allowed to fight in Vietnam, he resigned his position in 1965.
Steve Kroft RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American journalist and a longtime correspondent for 60 Minutes. His investigative reporting has garnered him much acclaim, including three Peabody Awards and nine Emmy awards, one of which was an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement. Drafted into the service and served in the Vietnam War. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Cu Chi, where he was a reporter for the Armed Forces Network; he covered the Division's participation in the invasion of Cambodia. He won several Army journalism awards for his work and a Bronze Star for Meritorius Achievement. When the Division was redeployed, he was reassigned to the military newspaper Stars and Stripes as a correspondent and photographer. Received an honorable discharge from the army in 1971.
Ted Kroll RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Army	American professional golfer. He began a 34 year PGA Tour career in 1949. He won eight times on the tour, including three wins in 1956, when he topped the money list with earnings of $72,836. Kroll played on three Ryder Cup teams: 1953, 1955, and 1957. Served in WW2 and earned three Purple Hearts after being wounded four times in the European Theater.
Nancy Kulp RETURN TO INDEX	U.S. Naval Reserve	American character actress best known as Miss Jane Hathaway on the popular television series The Beverly Hillbillies. Her film debut as a character actress was in 1951 in The Model and the Marriage Broker. She appeared in subsequent films, including Shane, Sabrina, and A Star is Born. After working in television on The Bob Cummings Show, she returned to movies in Forever, Darling, The Three Faces of Eve, The Parent Trap and The Aristocats. In 1944 Kulp left the University of Miami to volunteer for United States Naval Reserve service in WW2. As a member of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), Lt. J. G. Kulp received several decorations, including the American Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. She left the service in 1946.

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