Kemper Promoted to Sergeant Major

Article taken from The Portsmouth Daily Times, Sunday, January 16, 2005

---

Army Master Sergeant Matthew Kemper, a 1983 graduate of Minford High School, was promoted to sergeant major in ceremony on Jan. 5, 2005. The rank of sergeant major is the highest enlisted rank attainable in the U.S. armed services.

SGM Kemper enlisted in the Army as an Infantryman in August 1985. In 1989, SMG Kemper volunteered for a complete Special Forces training at Ft. Bragg, N.C. As a Green Beret, SMG Kemper has been assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group, Ft. Campbell Ky., the Office of Military Support, Washington D.C., 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Stuttgart, Germany, and 4th Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group, Fort Bragg.

Currently, SMG Kemper is attending the nine month Sergeants Major Academy located at Fort Bliss, Texas. Kemper's next assignment will with 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group.

SGM Kemper's award s include the five Meritorious service medals, four Army Accommodation medals, Southwest Asia Campaign medal, Kosovo Campaign medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Special Forces tab, Master Parachutist Wings, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Wings, and Air Assault Wings.

SMG Kemper is a son of Dave and Joyce Kemper of Wheelersburg.