Triton College Salutes our Veteran Heroes

Tracy Jennings of Westchester, Triton College’s Board of Trustees secretary, served in the U.S. Army for three years (E-4). 

After graduating high school in 1986, Jennings felt a civic duty to join the United States Army.

His permanent duty station was the 101^st Airborne Division Fort in Campbell, Ky. He was assigned to the 5^th of the 101^st Aviation Unit, where he was the petroleum supply specialist. Jennings served three years active duty from 1986-1989.

While on active duty, the secretary of the Army awarded Jennings the Army Achievement Medal. This honor was given to him for his ability to motivate and lead within the 5^th Battalion, 101^st Aviation Regiment of the United States Army.

As a public servant, Jennings has worked for the state of Illinois as a public service administrator (PSA) from 2013-2018. He held the title of PSA in three state agencies: The Department of Human Services, The Department of Children and Family Services Legal Division and The Department of Employment Security. He’s also a trustee for the village of Westchester.

As for Triton College, Jennings was elected to the board of trustees in April 2021 and has been secretary since April 2022. He noted that everyone in his family has taken classes at Triton College and feels it is a great place to learn.

In October 2021, Jennings returned to Illinois as a senior public service administrator for the DCFS Legal Division.

Jennings is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and DeVry University. 

My unit was ranked No. 2 in maintenance operation excellence in the USA and No. 1 overall in the division. I was the chief military history instructor at the U.S. Army Armor School at Ft. Knox. I helped with the Gulf War I and the refugees afterwards. I was awarded the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

This experience helped me grow up immensely. I saw the world, received paid training (Airborne, Ranger, digital technology, and computing) and learned a lot of good work experience. I learned a lot about team accomplishment and achievement, as well as being thankful for being born in the U.S. I learned about the value and power of education and “opportunity cost” – the value of time applied to accomplishing goals instead of being idle.

At Triton College, I am a full-time tenured professor in the CIS Department. I’ve been at Triton since 2001.

I was drafted in 1970 during the Vietnam War. I was deployed to South Korean for a year where a cold war was going on. The U.S. troops were in South Korea at the DMZ (demilitarized zone) to try to stop the North Korean Army from entering South Korea. I was in the First/Seventy-third Armor Division.

After a few months I was reassigned to be a chaplain’s assistant and I provided transportation for the chaplain. We went to several surrounding villages to improve the relationship between the U.S. soldiers and the Korean people. I worked at the St. Barbara Orphanage to improve their living situation. I helped at the (non-contagious) leprosy colony.

I believe that the military helped me become a better person and gain respect for all people. For me, Veterans Day means freedom for American people.

After my service in the U.S. Army, the government helped me finish college by paying my tuition. I graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in secondary education.

I wanted to join the Army because my father was a professional Army officer.

I traveled a lot growing up since my father was stationed at various Army posts around the country. My oldest brother went to United States Military Academy West Point and my other brother was an Army lawyer. I became a professional infantry officer.

When I was retired after 20 years of service, I earned a master’s degree in library science.

I’m currently a librarian at Triton College. 

Branch: US Army
Service: 2 Years
Rank: Private First Class (E-3)

When I joined the military, it was right in the middle of the Vietnam War. I wasn’t drafted -- I felt a duty to join. During my time serving, we were fighting in the jungle every day.

When I came back from the war, I joined my brother’s business as a partner. Due to my military background, I was asked by the government to teach at an alternative high school. I taught high school on the west side of Chicago for 10 years.

I’ve been teaching at Triton College for 20 years in the Adult Education Program.

I wanted to serve in the military because my family has served. My father served in World War II and my mom survived World War II. My uncle was in the Greek Navy.

When I was in high school, I was in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). I really enjoyed it. So, I decided to join the Army Reserve. I was 71L, admin specialist, during a time when computers were becoming more important. I was setting up the computers during my weekends with my unit, skills which relate to what I do now.

I’ve been teaching at Triton College for 24 years in engineering technology, welding, CAD and everything in between.