Born: June 24, 1943, Morehead, Kentucky

• Enlisted in 1962, Fort Holabird, Md.; Basic Training, Fort Gordon, Ga.; Infantry Radio Maintenance Course and Basic Airborne Training, Fort Benning, Ga.
• 1962-1965 Radio Maintenance Specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 1st Airborne (Abn) Brigade, 504th Infantry Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Abn), 509th Infantry’ Radio Mechanic and Chief Radio Maintenance, HHC 2d Battalion, 509th Infantry, 8th Infantry Division, Mainz, Germany
• 1966-67 - Communications Chief, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Company C, 2d Squadron, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Republic of Vietnam; Patient, Medical Holding Company, 106th General Hospital, Japan 1967-68 Wire Foreman, HHC 3d Battalion (Abn), 325th Infantry, 82d Airborne Division; Weapons Training (Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
• 1970-71 Light Weapons Infantry Adviser, U.S. Army advisory Group (USAAG) Military region 3; Third Regional Assistance Command, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, U.S. Army Pacific, Republic of Vietnam
• 1971-72 Chief Enlisted Adviser, USAAG (U.S. Army Reserve [USAR]), Fort Sheridan, Ill.
• 1972-73 Student, Advanced NCOES Course, 84th Company, 8th Student Battalion Training Student Brigade, Fort Benning, Ga.
• 1972-75 Senior Enlisted Adviser, USAAG (USAR), Fort Sheridan (Duty in Appleton, Wis.)
• 1976-77 Student, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas
• 1977-78 Infantry Operations and Intelligence Sergeant, HHC; First Sergeant, Company B. 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry, 2d Infantry Division, Republic of Korea
• 1978-80 First Sergeant, Combat Support company, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry; Command Sergeant Major, HHC, 9th Aviation Battalion; HHC, 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
• 1981-84 Commandant, NCO Academy, 1st Armored Division, Katterbach, Germany
• 1984-91 Command Sergeant Major, 4th Battalion 23d Infantry; 3d Brigade; 9th Infantry Division; I Corps, Fort Lewis, Wash.
• 1991-95 Sergeant Major of the Army

Significant Accomplishments as SMA

SMA Kidd grappled with the steady increase in the Army’s participation in operations other than combat. SMA Kidd also supported the NCOES program, which, like his predecessors, he considered to be the key to the NCO Corps’ success. During his tenure, the NCOES program made the final change that more closely linked it to promotion and supported the Army’s “select, training, promote, assign” philosophy. He also supported quality of life issues such as the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program and improved health care for soldiers and their families. When the Army began downsizing, SMA Kidd showed that it would have little to no effect on the operational abilities of the Army.

Selected Decorations and Awards

• Distinguished Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
• Bronze Star Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
• Air Medal
• Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
• Good Conduct Medal (11th award)
• National Defense Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
• Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Campaign Stars
• NCO Professional Development Ribbon (With Numeral 5)
• Overseas Service Ribbon
• Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm
• Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 6th Device
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Master Parachutist Badge
• Military Free Fall Badge
• Special Forces Tab