Veterans Week Special Presentation - Keni Thomas Motivational Speaker

Decorated U.S. military veteran-turned-country musician Keni Thomas gives a personal account of his heart-wrenching experiences in the chaotic 1993 Battle of Mogadishu to express a unique set of leadership lessons and inspired view of our greater purpose, and how we can apply these lessons in everyday life.

In the summer of 93, Sgt. Keni Thomas was deployed to Mogadishu Somalia 3rd Ranger Battalion as part of a special operations team called “Task Force Ranger.” Their mission was to find and capture a criminal warlord named Mohammed Farrah Aideed. On the 3rd of Oct Sgt. Thomas and his fellow rangers distinguished themselves in an 18 hour fire fight that would later be recounted in the highly successful book and movie “Blackhawk Down.” 19 Americans died and 78 were wounded in the worst urban combat seen by US troops since WWII.

SSG Thomas stayed in the Army for 3 more years as a team leader for a six-man ranger reconnaissance team. He earned his master parachutist rating with over 400 military free fall jumps. He completed the Special Forces Combat Diver course, Advanced EMT, Army HALO School, Pathfinder school, earned British, Belgian and Thailand Parachute wings and was one of ten Americans to complete the Belgium Commando Course.

Keni got out of the Army and now works full time as an award winning Nashville recording artist. His band Cornbread was featured in the movie Sweet Home Alabama and regularly tours with the USO.

Keni has been recognized by the US Congress, the White House, and recently inducted into the VFW Hall of Fame for his dedicated work on behalf of our veterans and military families. His new book “Get it On!” is already a best seller and is an incredible story of extraordinary individuals and how lessons learned under fire can inspire us all on a day to day basis.

Keni is also very proud to be a national spokesperson for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides college educations to the children of our special operations personnel killed in combat or training.

Keni is a graduate of the University of Florida, a recipient of the Combat Infantrymen’s Badge and the bronze star for valor.

Cost: $35

First 50 Non Member Veterans are complimentary with RSVP - Veterans RSVP Registration Click Here

Proceeds to support the clubs scholarship and community outreach programs.

Non Veterans, Members and Sponsors Register Below: