Fayette resident Kirk L. Besgrove will be presented with a Quilt of Valor from the Peacemakers Quilters during the annual Memorial Day service on Sunday afternoon.

Master Chief Besgrove joined the Navy on April 24, 1984, and attended boot camp until August 1984. Following boot camp, he was assigned to AG-A school from September through November 1984. There he received his training in meteorology and oceanography. His responsibilities throughout his career included supporting the safety of flight, ship routing around heavy weather, the safety of operations providing radar ranges for air search and targeting radars, sound speed profiles, and ranges for sonar detection of submarines. Following graduation from school, he was assigned to the NAS Miramar from November 1984 through July 1989. In August 1989 he was transferred to NOCC Guam through August 1991. 

Once again back to school for further training he transferred to Chanute AFB until April 1992. Upon graduation, he realized the Navy motto: “Join the Navy-See the World.” From April 1992 through June 1995 he served out of the NAS Norfolk and was assigned to the Naval Atlantic Oceanographic Center Mobile Environmental Team Norfolk. During that time he was deployed on numerous ships including the USS Josephus Daniels, USS Mooseburger, USS Whidbey Island, and USS Mississippi, among others. During that time he was also deployed with SEALS to Honduras and the Army to Haiti. 

In 1995 he transferred shoreside to NLMOC Norfolk. From 1998 through 2007 he served on the USS Nimitz, transferred to NPMOC Pearl Harbor, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and transferred back to NLMOC Norfolk as Command Master Chief. From 2007 through 2009 he was stationed at BUPERS in Millington Tennessee where he detailed other sailors to other jobs. He retired from BUPERS on June 30, 2009.

For his 25 years of service Master Chief Besgrove received the following awards: Meritorious Service Medal, six Navy Commendation Medals, Navy-Marine Achievement Medal, six Navy Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Medal, War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Sea Service Ribbon, Navy Overseas Service Ribbon, and Navy Pistol Markmanship.

One of Kirk’s memories happened when he was aboard the USS Mooseburger off the coast of Florida doing Active Submarine Warfare Operations. They were caught in the storm of the century in 1993. The ship took on 45-foot seas and 70-knot winds. Kirk says it made him feel very small in a very large ocean. He had forecasted 50-plus knot winds and 30-foot seas.

Kirk and his wife have four grown children and seven grandchildren, with number eight on the way. They reside in Fayette where he is enjoying his retirement playing golf.

The Memorial Day service will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday on the south lawn of the courthouse square in downtown Fayette.