Mike Kerr was born on February 19, 1938, in Santa Monica, California. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on April 1, 1955, and served with the 13th Rifle Company at Santa Monica from April 1955 until he went on active duty in the Marine Corps on August 31, 1956. After completing basic training and Track Vehicle Maintenance School, Cpl Kerr served as a Track Vehicle Mechanic with Headquarters & Service Company, 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 1st Force Service Regiment of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Del Mar (part of Camp Pendleton), California, from February 1957 until he left active duty on August 28, 1959. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve from August 29, 1959, to April 25, 1963, and during this time he attended San Diego State University, where he graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 1964. He next entered Officer Training School with the U.S. Air Force on July 2, 1964, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the Air Force at Lackland AFB, Texas, on September 28,. 1964. Lt Kerr attended pilot training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, from November 1964 to December 1965, followed by Survival Training at Stead AFB, Nevada, and RF-4C Phantom II Tactical Reconnaissance Training at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, and at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. His first assignment was as an RF-4C pilot with the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Mountain Home AFB from May to December 1966, and then as an RF-4C pilot with the 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from December 1966 until he was forced to eject from his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on January 16, 1967. After spending 2,240 days in captivity, Capt Kerr was released from captivity during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Travis AFB, California, and then completed pilot requalification at Randolph AFB, Texas, in September 1973. After completing F-106 Delta Dart Upgrade Training, he served as an F-106 pilot with the 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Castle AFB, California, from 1974 to June 1977. Maj Kerr attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from June 1977 to June 1978, and then served with the 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Zweibrucken AB, West Germany, from June 1978 to June 1982. Lt Col Kerr's final assignment was as as Wing Operations Staff Officer and Chief of Operations Plans with the 325th Operations Support Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Florida, from July 1982 until his retirement from the Air Force on October 1, 1992. Mike Kerr Flew West on August 10, 2019, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

His Distinguished Flying Cross w/Valor Citation reads:

First Lieutenant Michael S. Kerr distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as an RF-4C Pilot in Southeast Asia on 12 January 1967. On that date, Lieutenant Kerr attempted to contact a Forward Air Controller in an area not far from his assigned targets. After successfully contacting the Forwards Air Controller, Lieutenant Kerr learned that there were several targets requiring immediate photographing. During his search, Lieutenant Kerr successfully located an underwater, improved ford. This was a hidden river crossing being successfully used by the hostile forces. The pictures of this ford taken by Lieutenant Kerr were of excellent quality and were of great value to the strike force which was later sent to destroy this river crossing. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Kerr reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.