Public Domain Picture: Chuck and LeeAnn Kelso

Then Army PFC Chuck Kelso (bottom left) crawls at Fort Benning's Galloway Range during a live-fire exercise in 1987. The weapon he's firing is an M-67 recoilless rifle firing a HEAT (High Explosive Anti Tank) round. Upper left: U.S. Army Specialist 4 LeeAnn Kelso competes in an international marksmanship competition in 1988. Husband and wife Chuck and LeeAnn Kelso, of the South Florida Ecological Services Office, are veterans of the U.S. Army..They met in 1988 at Ft. Benning, Ga. while on active duty. Chuck, a fish and wildlife biologist , served as an Army Ranger from 1986-1989. From there, he was a drop zone/helicopter landing zone safety officer with the 187th Regimental Combat Team’s Pathfinder Detachment and later served as an instructor at the newly-formed U.S. Army Sniper School.” LeeAnn, an office automation specialist, was an administrative specialist in the Army and also great with a rifle. She enjoyed an assignment with the Army Marksmanship Unit and competed in various national and international competitions.. There is a rich history of military service on both sides of their family. In addition to Chuck and LeeAnn, 11 of their family members have served or continue to serve in America’s Armed Forces.. It all started with my Chuck's great-great-great uncle who fought in the Civil War and died at Camp Sumter, also called Andersonville Prison. Lee Ann's father served as an MP at West Point. Her brother did a hitch in the Marines and then in the Army. Both of his son's served in Southwest Asia. One is still an Army MP. Both Chuck’s father and uncle flew over Germany in World War II. Chuck’s cousin, son of the uncle mentioned above, is retired from the Army. Chuck’s brother is retired Navy. His oldest son retired from the Air Force and his youngest retired from the Navy.

665

2

Chuck, Kelso, Leeann, Veterans

March 26, 2014