Kevin Bye:
CLASS OF 1976
Red River High SchoolClass of 1976
Grand forks, ND
South Middle SchoolClass of 1973
Grand forks, ND
Ben Franklin Elementary SchoolClass of 1970
Grand forks, ND
Kevin's Story
Life
Born and raised in Grand Forks. Graduated in 1976 from Red River High School. Joined the US Army and started as a Military Policeman. After 3 yrs (was never in a squad car, worked NATO security.) I went to Military Legal School and became a Senior Legal Advisor. I served in Europe and State side. I became a Certified Army Physical Fitness Instructor and Train the Trainers. I also operated a Taekwondo school on post. I was a March Master as head of a U.S. Army orienteering team that competed in the USAEUR, United States Army European Command’, competition placing 4th of 11 teams (ahead of US Army Ranger’s team). I was medically retired from the Army (the army quit me, I didn’t quit them) due to MS and I received the the Meritorious Service Medal for my contributions to the Army..
I returned to Grand Forks, with my then wife, to raise our daughters and attend UND where I obtained my Masters Degree in Counseling. Divorced in 2001.. Worked for the State of Minnesota as a Senior Rehabilitation Counselor for 13 years until I began employment with the Department of Defense as a Counselor Advocates for the Military Severely Injured, and a Military Family Management Specialist, to assist the injured’s families while they stay up to 4 yrs, I was also a Counselor for the Army’s Wounded Warrior Program. After being selected as one of seven in the country, I was sent for processing in Arlington, VA. There I helped in developing the program. I was then moved to my assignment in the Palo Alto VA and Menlo Park, CA (National Center for PTSD) to implement the program. I worked out of my home, Santa Clara, CA. as well as 3 offices at the Palo Alto, CA Veterans Hospital (Main Polytrama center, main hospital and Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, with another at a different facility in Menlo Park, CA about 12 miles away at the Nat'l Center for PTSD. I also built and trained two individuals to operate the program in the Balboa Navel Hospital in San Diego, CA. In my free time I played and sang with 3 bands in the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz area. After 7 yrs. the military organizations decided they wanted to take care of their own, Discounting that we were required to have 10 yrs. active duty. I was the only one, in Palo Alto, to provide services to all military branches my...Expand for more
self to this point. I trained in about 35 military personnel, in the the process of trying to find just 8 Senior NCO’s,, 2-3 of each branch that could complete the paperwork, to be faxed off NLT 8 am every Tuesday for the Presidents noon Cabinet meeting, as well as the psychological aspect of working with individuals with missing limbs, needing a cranioplasty and/or PTSD., After I informed Washington I was retiring. I fully retired in August, 2010 and moved outside KC, MO to live near my daughter. After retiring and in my wheelchair I achieved my Master Divers Certification. In 2018, and being introduced to the sport of Wheelchair Curling, a special thanks to Don Barcome. I received training in Denver, CO. In July of 2019 and In Dec. 2018 I was placed, by the U.S. Paralympic Team's Asst. Coach, to curl in the U.S. International Wheelchair Curling Championships in Syracuse, NY …basically against National Teams that had just competed in the Paralympics at PyeongChang. Our beginners team did Okay in Syracuse… But, in June I was on a team at The U.S. National Wheelchair Pro-Am Championships, (Which was the U..S.’s Largest Wheelchair Curling event, outside of the International,) and, as is said…Lost the match for the Silver and received the U.S. National Bronze Medal. (My highest U.S. Curling Honor) I am now a member of the Kansas City Curling Club, The only competitive wheelchair curler within 457 miles, I curl with and against Able-bodied curlers. I now live in my home in Missouri and travel as a Competitive Wheelchair Curler to competitions throughout the U.S. and Canada and play on any team that needs a team member. I was lucky enough to have good team mates and and placed an brought home trophies and ribbons from several completions. I am also a member of the Wheelchair Body Building Assoc. (not to bulk up but to keep toned), I continue to bowl as member of the US Wheelchair Bowling Assoc. I’ve also continued my playing pool, after being on a city team winning 1st place before leaving Grand Forks, so I’m a member of the U.S. Wheelchair Pool Players Assoc.
I’ve been lots of places, seen and experienced many things throughout my military and civilian careers and don’t plan on slowing down. I’ve purchased my ticket to jump with the local skydiving school.
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