Once a little Boy
There was a little boy named Kenneth Lee Rice who was born to John and Vina Rice on
September 2, 1936 in a small town called sheldon, Missouri.
they lived there with there other children, Worley, Vestal, Loretta and Gilma. The little
boy named Kenneth Lee and his family moved to Idaho. Later they moved to Grass Valley, CA.
At age 16 Kenneth Lee joined the Army National Guard. At 17 He moved back to Idaho, where he
stayed with his sister Loretta. He attended school in Idaho until he joined the United States
Air Force. HIs brother, Vestal, signed the papers for him to join the military.
the careers and life changes for Kenneth Lee began.
In 1954 he became a "Fly Boy", which is the name for an Air Force G.I. He took his training
at Scott Air Force Base, MO. He was then sent to YOungstown Air Force Base, OH.
In May or April of 1957 Ken stopped to get a cup of coffee. A Young lady named Carol, served
his coffee but wouldn't talk to him. Porr thing...he kept coming back. Then one night carol
didn't want to walk home alone in the dark. When Ken walked her home, that was the beginning
of their life long love affair. They met in the spring and married in the winter on December 14
,1957 at a mission in Warren, Ohio. By 1964 they had four children, Bobbie, Tim, Cari and Leslie
Ray. they left Ohio and moved to California. Ken was then stationed in Okinawa (again). The
children and Carol stayed in the States. After Okinawa, he was sent to McCord Air Force Base
Washington. They then moved to Del Rio, Tx. After a short time Ken was sent to Vietnam for the
first of two tours of duty. After the last tour in Vietnam they moved to Japn in 1967. In 1970
they came back to the good ole' USA at George Air Force Base, near Victorville, california.
Ken retired from George Air Force Base November 1, 1976, the 200th Birthday of the USA.
another chapter change-He worked for a cable company, in which he designed and built cable
systems for Victorville, CA.
another chapter change-After working for the cable company, Ken worked under government contract
at Goldstone Deep Space Tracking Station, where he worked as an "R.F." Operator. After Goldstone
he worked under another Government contract at Fort Irwin Army Post in California's Mohave
desert for fiftenn years.
another chapter change-In 1997 while visiting their youngest daughter in Texas, Ken's life changed
On December 23, 1997 Ken was rushed to the emergency room, where Carol almost lost him. The "Baby Boy"
(Ken) became very ill and was force to retire (again). Due to his illness Ken and Carol returned to
Idaho until he was informed he was a candidate of a lung transplant at UCLA Medical Center. After
much research, Ken learned UCLA was number one in the nation for this type of transplant. Ken and
Carol moved back to California while waiting for a call from UCLA. On June 4, 2003 at 3:30PM UCLA
called to let them know they had a lung available for transplant.
another chapter change-Ken and his oldest son were taken by plane from Apple Valley, california
to Van Nuys, where a chopper was waiting to take them to UCLA. They arrived at UCLA approximately
6:00PM on June 4, 2003. The family had to drive by vehicle to UCLA. they arrived at UCLA at 9:00PM
On June 5, 2003, which is the Birthday of their eldest grandson, Ken received his new lung. Per the
transplant team and the medical center, it was a "Perfect Match". Ken was able to breath without an
oxygen tank cand could walk on his own without losing his breath.
On November 11, 2003 he began his fourney to a bigger promotion-On January 28, 2004 at 3:30PM the
"Baby Boy", "Fly Boy", Tsgt Kenneth Lee Rice had a permanent address change. He is now
stationed at Hallelujah Square, Heaven. The toll free number is John 3:16.
Carri Rice--Daughter of Ken
Looking around I see all the things that give the full respect and honor that a military man
rightfully deserves. Although I think of my Dad's Homegoing, I would like to give you a glimpse
of my father through a daughters eye. all that my father means to me is vast.
The Commander of all of Heaven and Earth has clled my father. Being a retired military man he
had no choice except to answer the call.
My father was a man of character, integrity and honor. He was a wealthy man.
As a child growing up in the military, I learned how the mention of my fathers name caused others
to treat me with more respect. I am sure it was because they didn't want my dad to give them a
"talking" to.
My father worked a few jobs after retiring from 22 years in the United States Air Force.
Some were technical and some were not so technical. He worked at each one with integrity and
character. He worked hard at each one and didn't believe any one of them was too menial.
He drove a cab for a while. He also worked for a cable company in which he designed and built
the cable system for Victorville.
Another job was at Goldstone Deep Space tacking Station. Goldstone is one of three tracking
stations in the world. I remember how excited he was when the Pioneer satellite sent the first
pictures of Jupiter to the world. More recently, Goldstone sent the world the first pictures of Mars
Dad had to call me at work. He was so excited and told me it was Goldstone that captured Mars. i was
excited to hear him talk about it.
To try and think of only a few things to share about my dad is very hard. I can remember one time when
my dad was not the "cool, calm, collected Air Forceman" he alwasys was. The first day we got to Japan
dad sat us down to give us "earthquake orientation". After "orientation" mom told us she loved us, but
when an earthquake hits.....we are on our own! that left dad to make sure we got out. We still tease mom
about that. Anyway, one night a quake hit. We all collided in the hall, except mom of course. Arms and legs
flailing. there was lots of screams and jumping around. Actually it was dad who was jumping around
trying to pull his pants on, wehile yelling "HURRY UP! HURRY UP!". I would have hurried, but I got shoved
in a black hole. I had NO idea where I was except I couldn't see anything. Then my older brother jumped
from the top bunk and his legs gave out on him. He was crawling on his hands and knees yelling, "Somebody
cut off my legs! Somebody cut off my legs!" Dad was STILL jumping around trying to get his pants on and
still TRYING to get us out of the house. Total chaos while the ground was shaking under us! Somehow we
finally got out of the shaking house. When it was time to come back into the house, dad decided we needed
to analyze our earthquake evacuation. somethin went wrong! So we had to discuss what happened. Per dad,
there were a few "flaws" in our "great excape?.
(1) The black hole I was in was really the linen closet and everything fell on top of me.
(2) No one cut off my older brother's legs. His bed sheets got tangled around his legs during the night
and cut off his circulation, causing his legs to fall asleep. When he jumped from the top bunk...his legs
crumpled under him.
(3) Dad finally got his pants on...except...they were on backwards AND inside out. We all laughed at dad
so hard. It took dad a while to see the humor in his "pants disaster".
When i think of my dad today I think of the differences he has made. While in the military, he fought for
the freedom of others. Today Vietnam children can feel a little safer because of my dad's participation
in the fight. His knowledge of aircraft help the aircraft of today to be better equpped to protect and
defend American, and other nations as well. I think of his technical ability to help guide billion dollar
satellites, to show the world what far galaxies and distant stars and deep space looks like.
Because of who my father was and the respect he had, I am blessed. I have learned the difference the mention
of my fathers (fathers) name can make.
On January 28th my father saw those very same stars and galaxies from a different perspective.
I love you dad! remember dad...you were my first boyfriend. See you again one day.
In a twinklingof an eye dad.....in a twinkling of an eye.
Loretta Smith--Sister of Ken
I was fifteen years old when he was born. My mother worked outside a lot so I helped with taking care of Ken
So I actually helped raise him.
Our father taught Ken to sing a song called "Cowboy Jack" while they were out in the barn milking the cows.
No one knew our dad was teaching him the song. My brother was to sing a song, ("cowboy Jack") at a Christmas
Program when he was about 4 & 1/2 years old. He was wearing bib overalls. When he got up on the stage he looked
out at all the people and hooked his thumbs in the overall straps and said, "I just decided I don't want to",
and he ran off the stage.
the country store always gave him a small sack full of candy for a penny. One day somebody gave him a nickle
to buy candy. He didn't want it. He wanted the penny because he thought it wouldn't buy as much as the penny.
Carol Rice--Wife of Ken
In trying to find a gift for some of our hime nurses, I recall one of the nurses was so sweet and really
loved to serve the Lord. She was telling us of how her faith got lost sometimes as well. she told us to keep on
believing for a miracle. she reminded us of the scripture "If you have the faith of a mustard seed nothing is
impossible". She has told us; on some days she gets up and asks the Lord to help her find her mustard seed.
Because of this conversation, Ken wanted to give her a gift of a mustard see and to tell her to always keep
on having faith. After that we would ask her or she (the nurse) would ask us if we still had our mustard seed.
He had his mustard seed till he went home with Jesus.
Ken and I saw the most beautiful sunset one evening while driving home from U.C.L.A. The most spectacular
shade of gold. It looked like a golden stairway right up through the clouds. He could not get over how
beautiful it was. I think of that and wonder about how beautiful Heaven must really be!
After his Lung Transplant, we (our daughter Carri and I) went into the room one day and Ken was sitting
up in his chair. He looked great sitting there> His look was a bit different and he said, "I don't care what
other music you have for me when I go home, But the one I want is "He Touched Me". Ken told us why.
while he was sitting there he felt a touch and there was a peace that come over him. Ken said, "He touched me."
When we were married in 1957 he told me I would never walk alone again. I would work late and it was so dark.
Even though i had to, I really didn't want to walk alone and in the dark. At our wedding on Saturday night
December 14, 1957 at the rescue mission chapel In Warren, Ohio, I said, "I do" and I did not walk alone
and in the dark.
