The Installation Management Command recognized a Fort Belvoir employee as the IMCOM Hero of the Day March 2.
Vicki Davis, Directorate of Logistics Operations Division chief, was given the recognition, in large part, for empowering one of her employees mentally and physically during his recovery from stage four cancer.
"One day she just asked me to wear a mask," said Richard Holmes III, DOL Command Supply Discipline Program team leader, who's alive today in large part, because of Davis' actions. "If you can clone what she did than you'll be successful."
IMCOM's Hero of the Day recognizes people who inspire leadership within the command.
Davis received a personal video conference with Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, IMCOM commander and Installation Management assistant chief of staff, as an award.
"It feels good," Davis said.
Holmes was diagnosed with stage four cancer in his abdominal area in April 2010 and Doctors discovered the disease trickled up to his brain stem rendering his chances for survival slim.
Holmes underwent six chemotherapy sessions and a 14 hour surgery in a six-month time-frame to treat the cancer.
"It was holy hell," Holmes said. "You don't want to experience anything worse."
Davis was very helpful to Holmes during his road to recovery.
Her first assist came by allowing Holmes to telework from home. Davis said DOL uses the program to enable personnel to continue working instead of coming to work ill or using sick leave.
Davis said the program works well as long as personnel exhibit a legitimate need.
"It's an excellent program if it's used properly," Davis said.
As a CSDP team leader, Holmes' job necessitated his presence at work so he returned to the office in the spring of 2011 when he was physically able.
However, Holmes' intensive treatment left him with a severely weakened immune system, making him more susceptible to sickness and he endured frequent illnesses during his first few months back at work.
"I'm like an AIDS patience almost. No white blood cells," said Holmes who feels unbearable pain from the simplest of viruses. "I thought I was dying."
Medication doesn't help Holmes when he becomes ill which intensifies his suffering, but Holmes refused to stay home because he has a son in college and a genuine passion for his job.
"If anybody sneezed in here he would get sick," said Davis who understood Holmes' desire to work. "No matter how sick he was he would drag himself here."
Davis' solution for helping Holmes came in the form of a surgical mask.
Davis purchased a box of these masks in attempt to help protect Holmes from office germs and viruses in the summer of 2011.
The outcome: Holmes hasn't become sick since that time. He wears a mask in every office he enters and only it takes it off when leaves for home.
"We should all wear them," Davis said.
Holmes strongly credits Davis and Claude McMullen, DOL director, who approved Holmes's wearing of the mask, for his recovery.
Davis also helped Holmes with his mental resurgence from cancer by constantly providing him with more assignments, instead of coddling Holmes with less work.
"That's what I need. I'm a hard headed retiree and sometimes I need people to be demanding with me and put me in the right direction," said Holmes who retired from the Army as sergeant first class after 25 years of service. "She made me want to come back."
IMCOM typically honors three "heroes" per week who are innovative, provide great customer service or great leadership as a way to recognize and inspire leadership.
"IMCOM employees do a lot of great things every day and we want to celebrate those acts and the people who perform them," said Bill Costlow, Installation Management Community Public Affairs chief, plans and outreach.
Costlow said anyone can recommend a fellow employee for the recognition.
Holmes, 52, will carry the majority of his treatment scars for the remainder of his life. He may never regain proper circulation in his right leg and his doctor said if the cancer returns his survival chances would likely be slimmer than his first fight with the disease.
Never discouraged, Holmes views his ordeal as a second shot at life and his goal is to help as many people as possible.
His first positive gesture was nominating Davis for the "Hero of the Day" award. The two DOL employees agreed its fitting that the announcement occurred during Women's History Month.
Holmes said the spotlight was destined for Davis who he believes genuinely cares for everyone around her and is a model for success for all females.
"She's got the formula all you have to do is follow it," Holmes. "Caring is most important."
Caring is a prevalent theme throughout DOL as Holmes and Davis said the agency's personnel are all attentive to each other's well being.
But Holmes insists that Davis still stands out.
"I'm never going to meet another Vicki Davis but maybe I'll become one," Holmes said.
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