Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tawny Kruse | Margaret Wright pins a rank on her son, Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Lewis, 334th Brigade Support...... read more read more
From the time he was a young child playing Army with his friends and family, Iowa Army National Guard (IANG) Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Lewis knew he would be in the military. His family’s legacy of service added weight to that decision. His father served and died in Vietnam, and his 92-year-old uncle served in Korea.
“It’s something I always wanted to do,” Lewis said.
Lewis joined on Nov. 8, 1981. Today, nearly 37 years later, Lewis was promoted to the rank of sergeant major at Camp Dodge’s Miller Armory. He is the first African American in the history of the IANG to be promoted to that rank.
Lewis, a resident of Johnston, has been with his girlfriend, Stephanie Unternahrer, for almost 16 years. He has four children: Shirah, 36; Justin, 34; Joshua, 28; and Ashley, 18. He said his family has always been supportive of his military career.
Lewis spent the first ten years of his life in St. Louis, Missouri, before moving to Des Moines. He enlisted in the Guard after talking to a recruiter during his senior year at Des Moines Technical High School.
Although Lewis always knew he would join the military, one aspect of that eventual outcome surprised him. His family expected him to join as combat arms. Instead, he enlisted as a combat medic.
“I thought I was going to be a grunt, but being a medic, I can walk with the grunts,” Lewis said. “I can be with the gun bunnies. I can do the same type of thing, but I have a specific task I gotta get done, and that’s saving their lives.”
Lewis started out with Charlie Company, 204th Medical Battalion. It was there that he met 1st Sgt. (Ret.) Greg Gill, the company’s first sergeant at the time. Lewis said Gill helped him learn how to navigate being the only minority in the company.
“Being the only minority in the company, it was like okay, how do you deal with people with different races?” Lewis said. “Gill said just do what you’re supposed to do. The regulations and rules are right there. You abide by them no matter what color you are.”
Gill instilled in him the idea that your leadership is always there to help you, but you have to take responsibility for yourself, too. Even after Lewis was promoted to first sergeant, he still asked for Gill’s advice. He became dedicated to knowing what right looks like.
“Jeff and I have become really good friends over our military careers,” Gill said. “His work ethic is incredible. That’s the reason he is where he is today. He was an easy person to mentor, because we was very coachable and responsible.”
Lewis spent 20 years with Charlie Company before being assigned to the 134th Medical Company, Ground Ambulance, in Washington, a southern Iowa town. It was there that he experienced one of his more difficult challenges. Lewis said after receiving his orders, he began getting calls that he would be assigned to a company in Iowa City instead.
“Come to find out, the reason they didn’t want me to go is because of racial issues with some of the Soldiers down from that area,” Lewis said. “And so I told them, I know how to deal with them. If they don’t know how to listen, the power of the pen is mightier than any word they can say.”
Despite the challenges, Lewis insisted on accepting his position as first sergeant of the company.
Gill said for Lewis, it has never been about race.
“He’s a wholesome individual,” Gill said. “It’s about how hard you’re willing to work and how trustworthy you are. And the Iowa Guard will give you every opportunity, no matter the color of your skin.”
Lewis said the most important parts of being a leader are being there for the people who look up to you and taking care of your Soldiers. For him, that means putting yourself in their shoes.
“Some leaders don’t do that because they forget where they come from,” Lewis said. “If I wasn’t in a leadership position, I’d be exactly where my young Soldiers are at, asking for someone to help me out and show me the way,” Lewis said.
When it comes to diversity in the IANG, Lewis understands that seeing yourself in a leader as a young Soldier can be impactful.
“I think diversity is very important because if you don’t see someone of your color, ethnic background or gender, the first thing you think is, ‘I will never ever make it that high,’ and there must be a reason,” Lewis said.
However, Lewis said that as long as Soldiers do what they’re supposed to do and work their way around roadblocks, they’ll be good to go. He said the best advice he can give is to ask for help and listen when it’s offered.
“If you work hard, you’ll get the praise when praise is due, and the butt chewing when it’s due, and you drive on,” Lewis said.
Above all, he emphasized that he got where he is today thanks to hard work. Lewis said he is proud of himself for being promoted, and he’s honored to be a part of the IANG.
“He has always been a great Soldier,” Gill said. “He’s a role model for sure. He’ll make a great sergeant major.”
| Date Taken: | 10.21.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2018 11:59 |
| Story ID: | 297159 |
| Location: | JOHNSTON, IA, US |
| Web Views: | 649 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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