Feb 2019: David Quinn
US Navy, 1980-2010

David Quinn was born in Richmond, Kentucky, on November 24, 1960. Upon graduation from high school in 1978, he attended Eastern Kentucky University prior to his enlistment in the United States Navy in August of 1980. After completing Basic Training in Great Lakes, IL, he attended Signalman “A” School in Orlando, Florida. His first of nine sea duty stations was the USS MAHAN (DDG-42) home ported in Charleston, SC. He also had tours aboard the USS Pensacola (LSD-38), USS Portland (LSD-37), USS Tortuga (LSD-46), USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), USS Wasp (LHD-1), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Essex (LHD-2), and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). His Shore Tours included Navy Recruiting Stations in Princeton, WV, and Wytheville, VA, Signalman Class “A” School in Orlando, FL, and Great Lakes, IL, and Afloat Training Group in Norfolk, VA. He loved Shore Duty so much that he terminated his last two assignments around the 18-month mark to return to Sea Duty.

While at Afloat Training Group, he became involved in a project to combine the Ratings of Signalman, Quartermaster, Boatswain’s Mate and Operations Specialist where he was very vocal as to why the Navy should scrap that plan because three of the four rates required security clearances and that would potentially put an end to several Sailors’ careers. While successful in stopping that project, it would eventually lead to the end of his Signalman rating and he would convert to Boatswain’s Mate to finish his career after 30 years.

His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4), Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Navy “E” Ribbon (6), Navy Good Conduct Medal (8), National Defense Medal (2), Armed Forces Expedition Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (18), Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon.

David is the Son of a Retired Navy Machinist Mate, George David Quinn, and his wife, Darlene Kay Quinn. He has two sisters: Mariann Quinn of Carlisle, Kentucky, and Colleen Taylor of Owensboro, Kentucky.
David married Rene’ Higgins Quinn of Memphis, who he met when he rented an apartment in Norfolk and she just happened to be the Resident Manager of the apartment complex. They were married on 29 June, 1985, and have two children, Shane David Quinn (Dominique) of Houma, LA, and Chance Zachary Quinn of St. Louis, MO. Chance is engaged to Kaydee Koch. They have two grandchildren, Auerora Skiye Quinn and Levi Ford Quinn.

David is a Past Commander and Life Member of Tipton County’s Ray-Pinner Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4840 and is West Tennessee District 9 Junior Vice Commander. He is also a member of Covington’s American Legion Post #0237 and a member of the Tipton County Veterans Council. He and Rene’ are members of Liberty Baptist Church in Covington.

David was nominated for Veteran of the Month by Wanda Bellow.