Brigadier General Kenneth R. Symmes was comissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 22 April 1947, class number 2. His first duty assignment was as Radio Operations & MSG Cen Officer, 11th Signal Service Battalion, Phil-Rycom, Okinawa. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Fixed Sta Rad Off, 519th Sig Svc Co, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; OIC ComCenter & Det Cmdr, Task GP 3.1, JTF-3; ComCenter Off, JTF-3, Washington, D.C.; Plans & Pol Off, ACofS G3, Headquarters, Signal Corps Center, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; Radio Off, Headquarters Rycom/IX  Corps, 8111th Sig Svc Bn, Okinawa; Ch, Radio Br, Engr Div, UQ, U.S. Army Electronic Prov, Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Corps Sig Adviser, USA ELM MAAG, Iran; Ch, Org & Eqp Br, The Signal School, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; Staff Electronic Engr, J-6, CINCPAC STAFF, Hawaii; Commanding Officer, 459th Signal Bn, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, Vietnam; Commanding Officer, 37th Signal Bn, Vietnam; Dep Secial Asst, Tactical Comm, ODCSLOG, DA, Washinton, D.C.; Ch, Plans Div, Defense Comm Agency, Washington, D.C.; Chief of Staff, Defense Comm Agency, Washington, D.C. | His awards and decorations include: VN Armed Fcs Honor Medal 1st Class, MUC (2), VSM, VNCM, AFRM, NDSM (w/Oak Leaf Cluster), WW II VM, AOM (J), ACM (w/Oak Leaf Cluster), JSCM, AM, Legion of Merit (w/Oak Leaf Cluster)