John Kinzinger

Vice President

John got involved with Operation Never Forgotten because he immediately saw the importance ONF messages could be for our troops and their families. He has been active in local Veterans volunteer work for the past 22 years. His passion to help those who have served in our military is a major part of his life. His focus the past 7 years has been the young men and women serving in the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. For instance, he led 7 local Support The Troops rallies and continues to be Chairman of our VVA 310 Care package program. Being a Vietnam Veteran, he knows how important it is to let our serving and returning troops and their families know we appreciate and honor their sacrifices.

Raised in Belleville, Michigan he started working at Ford Motor Company soon after high school. He was drafted and served with the 2/7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam as a battalion radio operator from October 1966-October 1967. He is very proud of his military service. They did what was right.

After his Army tour, he worked and attended Eastern Michigan University part time. After 12 years, he was presented a Master of Science Degree. He married his wonderful wife, Jane, in 1984. At Ford Motor he received several promotions. Then in late 1996, he was offered a nice retirement and chose that because it would allow him to stay home and help raise their wonderful young son.

He served as Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 310 President for 4 years and many other offices before that. He is currently Commander of the Ann Arbor VFW Post 423. And he is coordinator for a large group of Veterans who make up their county Veterans Honor Guard, which performed 148 military funerals in 2008.

He is very proud to have been recognized by his Veteran peers for the work he does. Besides the Chapter 310 awards, the list of those awards include, the 2003 Michigan Veteran of the Year, the 2007 National Vietnam Veterans of America Member of the Year and the 2009 Volunteer of the year at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center. And most recently, he was named the Ann Arbor Citizen of the Year. All this recognition is the result of the work he, and all those who support him, do to help Veterans.