PUYALLUP, Wash. -- An Army dentist's 30-year career came full circle when two general officers wished him congratulations on the occasion of his retirement June 27.
Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Tempel Jr., commanding general, Western Regional Medical Command, and chief, Army Dental Corps, presided over the retirement ceremony at Pierce County Airport for Col. David Thomas, who was retiring from the U.S. Army Reserve.
In his opening remarks, Tempel decided to "phone a friend" -- that friend was Tempel's own father and a former chief of the Army Dental Corps, retired Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Tempel Sr. The elder Tempel presided over Thomas' residency graduation ceremony 30 years earlier.
"What makes this day so special is that 30 years ago, 1985, my father was able to officiate at Col. Thomas' graduation from his one-year residency at Fort Riley," the WRMC commanding general said. "So I thought it only fitting … to officiate and link you two back up together. So now we've completed the circle."
In the 30 years between the two ceremonies, Thomas spent 10 years on active duty and 20 years in the Army Reserve. He earned the Expert Field Medical Badge early in his career, completed multiple deployments, commanded four battalions -- including the 6250th U.S. Army Hospital at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington -- and commanded a combat support hospital.
But more important than any command, Thomas said, was "serving the people."
"Serving the people of our country, that's what it's all about," he said. "That's why I stayed in 30 years."
Tempel congratulated Thomas on a long career and thanked him for his professionalism.
"When we look across the Army Medical Department, what we look for is … professionals in their health field, but also professionals in the profession of arms," Tempel said. "We need leaders; we need good clinicians, but we need leaders -- leaders like Dave."
Thomas' history of service is an excellent example of a joint approach to military medicine, Tempel said, since Thomas worked with all branches of the military and with foreign governments during his career. Thomas also worked in an active-duty, Reserve and now civilian capacity with Army Medicine.
"We don't say farewell because he's continuing his service … he is going to continue serving at the McChord Dental Clinic," Tempel said, of Thomas who leads that clinic.
Thomas said the Army and the Dental Corps are "top notch," and he's glad he was able to provide good treatment and good service to people around the world.
"I'm proud to have served. I'm proud to be a Soldier -- I'll always be a Soldier, and I will continue to serve," Thomas said.
Thomas and Tempel both recognized the contributions of the Thomas family, including wife, Elizabeth, children, Justin and Rebecca, and mother, Joyce Brownlow of Fairbanks, Alaska.
The JBLM U.S. Army Dental Activity provided a color guard for the ceremony. The flag flown at Thomas' retirement ceremony will be donated to the Pierce County Airport.
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