9th Ward Veteran Interviews - Ken Tingey

Spotlight on Brother Ken Tingey

At 25 years of age, Brother Ken Tingey was drafted into the army in 1970 during the Vietnam War. He received his basic training in Washington State for eight weeks. Following basic training, Brother Tingey served in Fort Carson, Colorado as a postal clerk. He received such high scores on his tests in basic training that his commanding officer wanted him to go to advanced training schools. To this Brother Tingey replied, “I don’t want to be a dead hero.” He was content serving his duty in the states. He was promoted to personnel specialist and loved his job very much. He became very good friends with those he worked with and would play handball, swim, and go sightseeing with them.

Brother Tingey had very mixed feelings about the war. He was attending Weber State at the time of the war and demonstrations were going on among the students daily. The sentimentality of the nation concerning the war was bleak. He didn’t believe they should necessarily be in Vietnam. Although he did not agree with the war, he greatly loved his country. Seeing the flag always brought on strong emotions. He is patriotic and willing to serve his country.

While serving in the army Brother Tingey began dating and got married during his time of service. His wife moved up to Colorado and they lived together in an apartment near the base. He was also able to phone and write his family back home.

Brother Ken Tingey also had many missionary experiences during his time of service. Before his marriage he slept in the barracks with 51 other men who every night would see him get down on his knees and pray. This would spur curiosity among his roommates. At least a half dozen of them asked him what he was praying about and he would tell them about the Church. In the office he worked in he kept in his desk a copy of the Book of Mormon, Meet the Mormons, and other pamphlets about the Church. At night when he would go home, he would take these books and pamphlets out of his desk drawer and leave them on top of his desk for the cleaners and night watchmen to read. He would also drive home at night with one man who he became good friends with. They had many discussions about the Church and his friend eventually accepted the missionaries.

Brother Tingey says he felt very protected in his time of service and felt that his life was spared. He saw many men, many friends, come home from the war with severe problems both mentally and physically and knew that he was protected by his Father in Heaven by not having to leave the country. He felt, and continues to feel, very, very fortunate.

Brother Tingey learned many things from his time of service, mostly in the realms of strict discipline and how to follow orders. He would tell future generations that we need to learn more about other countries and their situations. We need to learn to settle our differences and see how many good people there are in the world.