The William K. Kerr papers contain a very detailed memoir, with photographs, of Kerr's 30 years of service. He has pictures from all of his commands, but the bulk of them are from South and Central America and Vietnam. Kerr attended University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He received a draft notice soon after graduation that stated he could apply for a commission in the Army Veterinary Corps or enter the infantry as an E-0. He was commissioned as First Lieutenant and received training at AMEDD Officers Basic Course, US Army Medical Service Veterinary School, basic airborne, and Spanish language. In July 1965 he was assigned to the 3rd Civil Affairs Group (Airborne) in Central and South America. After graduating from AMEDD Officers Advanced Course he was assigned to 245th Medical Detachment in Vietnam, January 1969. During his tour in Vietnam he was reassigned to the 4th Medical Detachment and finally the 176th Medial Detachment. Many of his assignments in Vietnam were related to food inspection and military working dogs. In January 1970 he was assigned to the Veterinary Detachment, Japan. He then attended the University of Hawaii and worked at Tripler Army Medical Center until July 1975. After attending the Command and General Staff College he returned to Panama, was assigned to the Army Surgeon Generals Office, the Defense Logistics Agency, and again at Tripler Army Medical Center for the Gulf War. He retired as a colonel in August 1994. Many of his assignments were related to food inspection as well as humanitarian related activities.
