Keni Thomas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keni Thomas
Thomas performing at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait in 2006
Background information
Born	(1965-07-01) July 1, 1965 (age 59) Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Moraine
Associated acts	Blackhawk Vince Gill Emmylou Harris

Kenneth Mervyn Thomas (born July 1, 1965) is an American country music singer and a former United States Army Ranger. He is known for his music and for his brave service in the military. Keni Thomas was part of a special group called Task Force Ranger during a mission in Somalia. He was involved in a famous event known as the Battle of Mogadishu. Today, Keni Thomas also works as a motivational speaker, sharing lessons he learned from his time as an Army Ranger.

As a country singer, Thomas has released several albums on his own. Two of his songs from the album Flags of Our Fathers: A Soldier's Story even appeared on the Billboard country music charts, which track popular songs.

Thomas also appeared on the FX television show Louie in 2011. He played himself in episodes that showed a fictional version of a real visit he made to Afghanistan with the U.S.O..

Keni Thomas
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1991–1997
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Unit	3rd Ranger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment
Battles/wars	Battle of Mogadishu (1993)

Keni Thomas's Military Service

Keni Thomas joined the United States Army in 1991. Before joining, he studied at the University of Florida. He became a member of the 3rd Ranger Battalion, which is a highly trained special operations unit. He eventually reached the rank of Staff Sergeant.

The Battle of Mogadishu

Thomas was part of a special military group called Task Force Ranger. Their mission was part of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. A main goal was to capture a powerful warlord named Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The most famous combat mission happened on October 3, 1993. Thomas and other Task Force members were involved in the Battle of Mogadishu. This intense battle was later told in the book Black Hawk Down and the movie Black Hawk Down. Keni Thomas helped as a consultant for the film, making sure it was accurate. He also helped with another movie called We Were Soldiers.

Military Achievements and Training

After his time in Somalia, Thomas continued to serve as a leader on Ranger teams. He received important military awards, including the Bronze Star for Valor. This medal is given for heroic actions in combat. He also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, which shows he was in ground combat.

Thomas was a highly skilled paratrooper, completing over 400 jumps. He earned parachute wings from both the British and Belgian armies. He also completed many tough military training courses. These included the Army's Ranger School, Belgian Commando School, and Special Forces Combat Diver's School. He also finished the Army's Jumpmaster Course, Pathfinder School, and Military Free Fall (MFF) School. These schools teach advanced skills for special operations.

Keni Thomas's Music Career

Thomas performing in 2006

Keni Thomas started his music career by forming a band called Cornbread. They performed in and around Columbus, Georgia. Cornbread became more well-known in the mid to late 1990s, playing at college campuses like Auburn University. Thomas and Cornbread released several albums. One album, Flags of Our Fathers, was released under Keni Thomas's name. The band Cornbread was also featured in the movie Sweet Home Alabama, starring Reese Witherspoon. In the movie, Keni and his band perform the song "Sweet Home Alabama".

Supporting Military Families

Keni Thomas donates some of the money he earns from his music to the Hero Fund. This fund helps the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. This organization provides college scholarships and financial help to children whose parents were killed or wounded while serving in Special Operations.

Performances and Appearances

Thomas has performed many times at the famous Grand Ole Opry, a well-known country music stage. He has also appeared on several television shows, like Huckabee and CNN. On these shows, he talked about his book and his experiences during the Battle of Mogadishu.

Keni Thomas has sung the national anthem for the New York Yankees baseball team several times. This includes singing at game one of the 2009 World Series. He also sang for the San Francisco Giants on Memorial Day in 2010.

In 2011, Thomas appeared on the FX television show Louie. He played himself in a story that was based on a real U.S.O. visit he made to Afghanistan with comedian Louis C.K. in 2008.

Thomas's song "Hold The Line" was featured in a 2014 documentary called The Hornet's Nest. This film used real footage to tell the story of a group of U.S. troops on a dangerous mission in Afghanistan.

On June 8, 2014, Thomas sang the National Anthem for the unveiling of the Allied Paratrooper Monument in Normandy, France. This event honored the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. He performed with the 82nd Airborne Division Color Guard.

Other Activities

After leaving active military duty, Keni Thomas worked as a youth counselor. He also became a speaker, giving talks to many different groups across the United States. He shares stories from his time in the military. He inspires people to achieve great things by talking about the importance of good leadership. He stresses that everyone can be a leader, even if they are only leading themselves.

In 2011, Thomas wrote his first book, called "Get It On." The book shares his personal story from October 1993. He describes how he heard the words "get it on" from a superior officer. He then prepared for battle, got into a Blackhawk helicopter, and headed to Mogadishu, Somalia. He was one of the soldiers who returned from what became known as Black Hawk Down. This battle lasted two days and resulted in many casualties.

Discography

Albums

As Cornbread

As Keni Thomas

Singles

Music videos