Nacey Kent was born on August 11, 1945, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on August 13, 1962, and after completing basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, he was trained as an Aircraft Mechanic at Sheppard AFB, Texas. His first assignment was as a KB-50 Superfortress Dock Crew Member with the 3rd Organizational Maintenance Squadron at Yokota AB, Japan, from March 1963 to January 1964, and then with the 441st Organizational Maintenance Squadron at Yokota from January 1964 to March 1965. A1C Kent next served as a C-118 Liftmaster mechanic with the 6100th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Tachikawa AB, Japan, from March to July 1965, followed by service with the 348th Combat Support Group at Itazuke AB, Japan, from July 1965 to September 1966. His next assignment was as an aircraft mechanic with the 363rd Field Maintenance Squadron at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, from September 1966 to September 1967, and then as an AC-47 Spooky flight engineer with the 4th Air Commando Squadron at Nha Trang AB, South Vietnam, from September 1967 to May 1968. Sgt Kent served as an aircraft maintenance specialist with the 28th Military Airlift Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah, from June 1968 to April 1969, followed by service with the 62nd Military Airlift Wing from April to June 1969. His final assignment was as an aircraft maintenance specialist with the 19th Military Airlift Squadron at Kelly AFB, Texas, from June 1969 until he received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force on November 24, 1969. Nacey Kent died on May 1, 2004, and was buried at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

His Air Force Cross Citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, awards the Air Force Cross to Sergeant Nacey Kent, Jr., for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an AC-47 Flight Engineer near Pleiku, Republic of Vietnam on 5 May 1968. On that date, Sergeant Kent and the AC-47 crew were defending Pleiku Air Base against a hostile mortar and rocket attack when their aircraft was critically damaged by a hostile projectile. Although Sergeant Kent's leg was broken in the ensuing crash, he helped the enlisted crew to evacuate, reentered the burning aircraft to carry the seriously wounded navigator to safety, and then entered the aircraft again to aid the other crew members and to fight the fire. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness, Sergeant Kent reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.