Father, son honored by Air Force general at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

  • Published
  • By Chuck Roberts
  • Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Public Affairs
LANDSTUHL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, Germany --  What began as a standard award ceremony for Chief Master Sgt. David Lewis, the enlisted advisor to the Assistant Surgeon General for Nursing Services, turned into an emotional coin presentation for his father and numerous others in attendance.

While on a trip to Germany with Maj. Gen. Melissa Rank, the Assistant Air Force Surgeon General for Nursing Services and Medical Force Development, Chief Lewis was presented the Meritorious Service Medal as part of their day-long visit with staff and patients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

The significance of the award presentation far from his home station at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., soon became clear. Among those in attendance at the troop call was his dad, retired Soldier Herman Lewis.

As a child, Chief Lewis followed his father's career when it took their family to Landstuhl for three enjoyable and memorable years. It was partly because of those fond memories, Chief Lewis said, that motivated him to follow in his father's footsteps with a military career.

However, when momentous occasions occurred during his career such as pinning on the rank of chief or achieving a bachelor's degree in occupational education, their paths never seemed to cross.

That changed, though, on Dec. 12 when the elder Lewis was called to the front of the auditorium by General Rank whose voice halted with emotion as she paid tribute to Mr. Lewis while presenting him with her personal coin and a two-star hug.

"I couldn't speak. I was all choked up. It was really special," said Mr. Lewis, a local retiree who was not told beforehand the event was to take place. He was called to the hospital, he said, under the guise of attending a physical therapy appointment.