Honoring Our Heroes

Master Sergeant Ronnie Edwin Kinsfather: Age: 75

Master Sergeant (MSgt) Ronnie Edwin Kinsfather served 20 years and eight months in the United States Air Force. His Military Occupational Specialty Code (MOSC) was Telephone Plant Maintenance superintendent. His decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons included: Air Force Commendation Medal with four Devices, Air Force Achievement Medal with one Device, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with four Devices, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with three Devices, National Defense Medal, Air Force Overseas Loing Tour Ribbon with one Device, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon with one Device, Air Force Training Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with four Devices, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Devices and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

MSgt Kinsfather was born September 17, 1948 to his parents, Elvin and Alice Kinsfather, at Houston, TX, where he was reared and graduated from M.B. Smiley High School in May 1967. After working at various jobs for seven months, he decided to join the U.S. Air Force.

MSgt Kinsfather volunteered and entered military service January 3, 1968. MSGT had 12 assignments at Air Force bases including four overseas tours. Beginning at the rank of Airman, he received five promotions in rank during his military career. He completed Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) San Antonio, TX, with the 3704th Basic Training Squadron Flight 9. He then completed training at Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX, with the 3752nd Student Squadron to work as a telephone installer and maintenance man. MSgt Kinsfather completed eight assignments with this type of MOSC including the following: (1) Barksdale AFB, LA, with the 46th Communication Squadron, at the rank of Airman, (2) Binh Thuy AB, Republic of Vietnam with the 1880 Communication Squadron at the rank of Airman 1st Class, (3) Vandenburg AFB CA, with the 392 Communication Squadron at the rank of Sergeant, (4) Langley AFB, VA, with the 1913 Communication with his family accompanied at the rank of Sergeant, (5) Sembach AB, Germany, with the 2134th Communication Squadron at the rank of Staff Sergeant, (6) Langley AFB, VA, with the 1913 Communication Squadron at the rank of Staff Sergeant, (7) Hofn Air Station (AS), Hofn, Iceland, at a radar station with Detachment 4 Operationing Location A, 1913th Communication Group at the rank of Staff Sergeant, (8) Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX, with the 1923 Communication Group at the rank of Technical Sergeant, (8) Lindsey ASN, Wiesbaden, Germany, with the 2063 Communication Squadron at the rank of Technical Sergeant and (9) Maxwell AFB, AL, with the 1973 Communication Group at the rank of Master Sergeant where he retired from military service August 31, 1988.

After his military retirement, MSgt Kinsfather worked temporary jobs with various companies at Montgomery, AL. Using the G.I. Bill, he completed training in air conditioning and installation at the John M. Patterson Technical College at Montgomery, AL. He then worked for 20 years with Climate Service Inc., a heating and air conditioning company at Montgomery, AL, retiring in May 2011.

MSgt Kinsfather and his wife, Blanche, were married 49 years before she passed away, and they had three children and three grandchildren. They were members of the Vaughn Park Church of Christ at Montgomery, AL, and they enjoyed fishing on the AL coast. He is a member of the American Legion Post Two and the VFW Smith-Wynn Post 96. He served as a volunteer at the Central AL Veterans Health Care Outpatient Clinic for four years during 2015-2019.

MSgt Kinsfather's modest conclusions about his military care are: "I served my country for freedom." He would like people to remember him as being someone who would stay with a job and not quit on it.