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A family legacy: 65 years in the making

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Haley Stevens
  • 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

As he rolled open his desk drawer to reveal a military patch once worn by his father, Maj. Phillip’s gaze lingered on the 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing emblem in his grasp. His eyes seemed to search for the memories woven between the black and maroon threads before setting it down next to his keyboard.

Many families connect through movie nights, snacking on popcorn, rooting for their favorite sports team or singing those ‘80s classics, but this major’s family founded a tradition within the years they dedicated to the U.S. Air Force.

Phillip, 732nd Operations Group chief of intelligence, is part of a legacy that began when his grandfather enlisted in the Air Force in 1953.

Since the beginning of the Cold War, his mother, father and uncles have answered their nation’s call and now get to watch Phillip grow and carry on the more than 60-year-long tradition of military service.

“My father being in the Air Force was a huge inspiration to me,” said Phillip. “I got to see first-hand how passionate he was about taking care of his people, about what it meant to serve something larger than yourself (while) also taking care of the family and see how he balanced those things.”

Phillip’s grandfather, Jerry, said that the friends he made as an Airman motivated him to not only be a better service member as he took on more responsibility but to keep an open mind when facing new obstacles.

“I met so many people along the way from various ethnic groups, backgrounds, education levels and they always made me want to strive ahead and stay with them in every duty assignment,” Jerry said. “I learned that I had to apply myself. (Duty) is not just a narrow line, (duty) is very broad. I had to be broad.”

Over time, Jerry climbed through the ranks, started a family of his own and raised a little girl who would later sign the dotted line herself to join the Air Force.

While following in her father’s footsteps, she soon met a man named Patrick. The two fell in love, got married and as years passed, had two children including Phillip.

Patrick went on to serve in the Air Force for 26 years with his son Phillip watching as he too gained rank, balanced work obligations with family and influenced the Airmen he would come to lead.

When Phillip joined the military and Patrick realized he wanted to continue the family tradition of military service, he was proud to have one more generation that wanted to keep this country safe.

Each individual journey began with its own set of expectations but led to shared experiences over the generations.

“Phillip has run into people that I used to supervise, then cross-trained out of my career field and into his career field and then became his superintendent,” Patrick explained. “Over the past 10 years, he’s probably run into 20 people that we’ve either been stationed with, have known me or he went to school with.”

Phillip revealed what an honor he believes carrying the family torch is and how much he appreciates this chance to serve as his father and grandfather once did.

“Being a third generation Airman is a wild trip,” Phillip said. “Just thinking through what my grandfather saw, what my dad saw, the different conflicts they were apart of, the different people that they met, and the challenges they overcame - its very humbling and exciting to know that I’ve been given the opportunity to continue their legacy and to continue to serve our nation.”

Both Jerry and Patrick expressed how proud they were to watch Phillip experience something they’ve each dedicated more than 20 years of their life to.

“It’s a good life,” said Jerry. “It was a good life for me, and for his father, so why not for him?”

Today, Phillip is grateful for his ability to serve the Air Force and for everything it has provided his family.

“The opportunity to be an Airman is just incredible,” Phillip shared. “It has afforded our family the opportunity to see so much of the world, to meet incredible people, and to have stories that otherwise we never would have had.”

Family has been a consistent priority throughout the generations. Phillip looked back on some childhood memories spent with his father and what he learned from those times.

“My dad was gone a lot growing up with deployments and Temporary Duties but thinking back on it, he was always there when I needed him,” said Phillip.

This, among the many lessons Phillip has learned from his father, is one he wishes to emulate for his own wife and children.

“My hope for the future is to be able to be there for my family enough that when they look back on dad or husband being in the Air Force, (they remember) that I was there,” Phillip explained.

As he reflected on the countless sacrifices his family has made for their country, Phillip noted the immense pride he feels knowing that he serves the same 432nd Wing his father once served.

“He’s going to accomplish everything that is put in front of him,” Patrick said. “It’s going to be an amazing journey and I can’t wait to see it.”