Operation Purple Pride Headlines
- Operation Purple Pride welcomes personal diaries or journals, photos, quick news updates about you and other classmates serving in Afghanistan or Iraq.
- Nursing soldiers and cheerleading Rachel Engler ('05) took on the challenges of the U.S. Navy, nursing and the Washington Redskins
- Supporting U.S. troops from the air Jeffrey Cretz ('03) serves second deployment in Middle East
- Second tour in Iraq feels right U.S. Army officer and ROTC program graduate Jeffrey Farmer ('88) takes major changes in stride
- Helping make Baghdad a safer place JMU ROTC graduate Capt. Dan Hodermarsky ('03) keeps HQ vehicles in top shape
- No clowning around for this Navy 'bozo' Aviator David Hunter "Bozo" Bankart ('99) takes pride in giving back
- Hobby turns into career Brennan Sweeney ('97) enjoys the art of aviation
- Baghdad, family crisis and intercultural cooperation Eric Johnson ('95) reports on the first days of Operation Iraqi Freedom with Task Force Tarawa Marines
- Different perspectives Will Schiek ('87) leads more than 500 U.S. soldiers providing logistics, security and communications for their Iraqi counterparts
- A service-oriented life Joe Clem ('89) provides medical support in Baghdad
- Rebuilding Iraq Civil Affairs officer Maj. Patrick Creed ('93) works with Iraqis to rebuild a nation
- Serving with JAG Corps in Iraq Lt. Col. Michael McWright ('85) with the Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps
- Bringing democracy to the Afghani people and airwaves Maj. Patrick Kerr ('90) with Task Force Lightning
- Securing Baghdad's west side Capt. Shawn Harper ('97) reports on duty in Iraq
- Learning to fly Black Hawks Former JMU recruiter Lt. Kenny Ward ('03) now in 82nd Aviation Brigade
- A brief hello to fellow Dukes Lt. Col. Don Mosman ('85) reports from Iraq
- JMU's award-winning ROTC program Program repeatedly ranked in the top five percent in the nation.
- Maj. Mitchell Bell ('88) rescues injured Marines Marine reservist serves in Al Taqaddum, Iraq
- 1st Lt. James Sheasley ('02) cheers on the Dukes Purple, gold and green for this Marine
- Supporting the global war on terrorism Charles May ('83) is serving in Naval Criminal Investigative Service
- Coming home Iraqi war veteran returns to JMU ROTC
- Warhorn History: Lt. Col. Laurie Moe Buckhout's ('84) Operation Iraqi Freedom diary
- MREs for 200,000? Army food service director Lt. Col. Don Vtipil ('84) serves three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan
- A Blackhawk pilot's view of Operation Iraqi Freedom A journal entry by Major Donald R. Nitti ('88)
Bringing democracy to the Afghani people and airwaves
Maj. Patrick Kerr ('90) with Task Force Lightning
Maj. Patrick Kerr ('90) [center] and his team bring democracy to the Afghani airwaves.
Part of Operation Enduring Freedom VI
Having grown up the son of a U.S. Air Force service member, it was only natural that Maj. Patrick L. Kerr ('90) would follow in his father's footsteps.
Kerr recently served a tour in Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, as a part of Combined/Joint Task Force 76 for Operation Enduring Freedom VI.
He is the operations officer and executive officer for Task Force Lightning based out of Mannheim, Germany, a position that Kerr describes as "very demanding, but extremely rewarding."
Provided humanitarian assistance and communications support
Kerr's task force was responsible for a number of projects throughout Afghanistan. "I assisted with the process of ending terror for the people of Afghanistan," he says. "Our unit conducted regular humanitarian assistance visits in Bagram area villages, bringing the villagers clothes, shoes and school supplies. The Afghan children want to touch and speak with you."
In addition to humanitarian efforts, Kerr's unit provided 24/7 communications support to U.S. Joint Forces in Afghanistan and helped train Army soldiers, Navy sailors and Air Force members on communications technology. They provided support to the Joint Election Management Board during the September 2005 national election process and deployed a communications team to Pakistan to assist with earthquake recovery. His unit also installed, operated and maintained "mobile tactical FM radio teams" that spread election and civic information to the public.
"Because of our teams, the people of Afghanistan have been able to hear the democratic and economic progress that has been made nationwide," Kerr adds.
15-year Army career
Kerr has been deployed to Somalia, Kuwait and Bosnia during his 15-year Army career. He has been stationed in Belgium and Germany, where his family currently lives. In the United States, Kerr has lived in Augusta, Ga., Colorado Springs, Colo., Leavenworth, Kan., and Washington, D.C.
The business administration major is also a JMU ROTC graduate. He earned a three-year ROTC scholarship and decided to stay with the Army even after he had completed his eight-year obligation.
Family life beckons
Kerr says the hardest part about working in Afghanistan was being away from his wife, Wendy ('89) and their two children, 6-year-old Noelle and 4-year-old Peter. He says he looked forward to walking his children to school and sharing a glass of favorite German wine with his wife when he returned home.
After taking leave in Germany, Kerr and his wife hope to get the chance to fly to their next duty assignment and look for houses to buy or rent.
Kerr, who earned his MBA from Webster University in 2003, says he wants to become a deputy city manager for a small city or enter the golf business after the Army.