Kenneth R. Marsh Jr. Biography
Kenneth Richard Marsh Jr was born June 14th 1965 on what is known as flag day, to Kenneth Richard Marsh Sr. and Janet Carol Marsh (Drewniak). Flag Day, the day the United States flag was conceived. A high degree of patriotism was instilled in Ken from a young age and he still upholds the highest patriotic values instilled in him by his parents and grandparents. Ken is a life-long practitioner of the martial art Isshinryu karate having achieved the rank of godan, 5th degree black belt.
Notable relatives to Ken are his Grandfather Kenneth Rodney Marsh who served as a 30 year veteran of the U.S. Navy as an Electronics Warfare Technician achieving the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer with last duty station Pensacola Florida, Master Chief of the Command. And, Raymond Joseph Drewniak, gun designer, tool and die maker, and model maker for Savage firearms of Westfield Massachusetts.
Ken is a 1983 graduate of Easthampton High School in Easthampton Massachusetts. Shortly after graduation Ken entered the United States Navy following in his grandfather’s footsteps. Unlike his grandfather who was a “fleeter” in the Navy, Ken enlisted in the Navy Construction Battalion, Seabees. Ken achieved the rank of 3rd class petty officer, E-4 and also qualifies as a Combat Warfare Specialist. Duty stations included destinations such as; NRTC San Diego CA, NCTC Port Hueneme CA, CBHU Davisville RI, Westover AFB Chicopee MA, NRTC Chicago IL, NCTC Gulfport MS, Camp Covington Guam, and NAS Sigonella Sicily. Ken has served as; squad designated marksman, grenadere, M2a machine gunner, mortar team leader, fireteam leader, squad leader and firing range instructor. Ken had the honor of serving with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion NMCB-7, a highly decorated unit with three (3) “Battle-E” decorations. On April 8th of 1988 Ken was discharged honorably from active duty. Shortly after discharge, from injuries sustained while on active duty, he was granted VA disability compensation.
Shortly after his discharge, Ken took positions in law enforcement and was employed as a deputy sheriff at Northampton County House of Corrections and also served as a reserve, per diem police officer for his home town department in Easthampton MA. Upon approval of the VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation program, Ken made a career change to Mechanical engineering and enrolled at Springfield Technical Community College receiving his degree in engineering. Further education was pursued at other universities such as Westfield State College, University of Massachusetts and Worchester Polytechnic Institute.
During engineering internship at Westover Air Force Base, Ken was hired as mechanical engineering technician in charge of design-build projects, project supervision, and project contracting management. After ten years of federal employment he decided to take positions in the private sector which included Director of Operations, Chief of Design Build Construction, Project Manager, Estimator, and then finally as an Engineer at Harley Davidson where he met Michael Lutz.
At Harley Davidson Ken and Mike made a strong friendship as manager’s on the assembly line where they discussed their values in military, physical fitness and the martial arts. Mike would soon become a karate student of Ken’s and train rigorously in the discipline of Isshinryu Karate. Mike finally being awarded his black belt in October of 2017 by Ken.
In the aftermath of Mike’s heroic actions on June 9, 2016; Ken was heartbroken seeing his good friend’s suffering. Ken was further disheartened when there wasn’t any nonprofit help for Mike and his family in their time of need. Then when Mike’s family sought care, they had to pay for their own medical expenses. Ken knew that something needed to be done and that there was a great need for change in the care of wounded Law Enforcement Officers. This would lead to the establishment of Team Deputy Lutz.