Kenneth D. Roach was born February 14, 1949, in Springfield, MO. He entered the U. S. Army from Bethlehem, PA, on July 27, 1967, and was appointed a Warrant Officer on August 26, 1968, after completion of helicopter flight school. He was assigned to B Co., 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). He served with B Co. from September 1968 to June 1969. He completed his first tour with HHC, 101st Aviation Battalion. After completion of his first tour, he served as an instructor pilot at Hunter AAF, Savannah, GA. In August 1971, he returned to RVN and was assigned to A Co., 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. In December 1971 he was transferred to B Co., 101st Aviation Battalion and remained there until the Division stood down. He completed his tour serving as an advisor with the 239th Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) Squadron and a member of Air Force Advisory Team 1
During his two tours of duty, Ken was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with OLC, the Air Medal with two “V” devices for Valor and the numeral 27, the Army Commendation Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal with 7 Stars, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Vietnam Air Service Medal and Vietnamese Air Force Wings.
Ken served for over 20 years as a Supervisory Aviation Safety Inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration at Bradley International Airport. He served in the Connecticut Army National Guard flying the CH-47D helicopter for over 20 years. In January 2009, he retired from the FAA with over 29 years of service. He also retired from the Connecticut Army National Guard in December 2008 as a CW5 with over 8000 flight hours and 41 years of military service.
Additional military awards include the Legion of Merit, Army Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Components Achievement Medal with 6 OLC, National Defense Medal with 2 Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass Device, Connecticut Medal of Merit, Connecticut Longevity Medal with 15 Year Device, and the Connecticut Emergency Service Ribbon.
Ken is a member of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society. He is a life member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and a life member of the 101st Airborne Division Association. He served as the National President of the 101st Airborne Division Association from 2001 to 2002. He is also a member of several hereditary societies.
