Father, son serve together at Kunsan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alice Moore
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  When Chief Master Sgt. Owen Powell, 8th Maintenance Squadron superintendent, entered the Air Force in 1978, becoming a chief someday wasn't an immediate goal.

Thirty years later, after 13 assignments, Chief Powell said he's had a great career. Approaching his retirement ceremony, April 23 will be a day he won't forget for many reasons. One reason is that his oldest son Staff Sgt. Jon Powell, 8th Communications Squadron visual imagery and intrusion detection systems craftsman, will be by his side, celebrating the chief's accomplishments at the remote base here.

"It feels wonderful knowing that I get to serve side-by-side with my father on his last tour in his career," said Sergeant Powell.

Chief Powell, a Richmond Kentucky native, began his career as a protective coating specialist. Five years later, he cross-trained into the aerospace ground equipment career field. Out of his 13 assignments, six of them have been in the Republic of Korea and he didn't have initial aspirations to become a chief, he said.

"When I came into the service, most folks were retiring as staff and technical sergeants so I set a goal my first year that I would make the military a career and retire at 20 years as a master sergeant," he said.

Chief Powell said he made the rank of master sergeant within 12 years and it was at that point he decided his new goal would be to make chief master sergeant before he retired.

"My wife wanted me to retire after I made senior master sergeant, but in my mind, I had not reached my goal and wanted to give it every chance I could," he said. It was at the chief's last try that he was selected as a chief.

"I had 27 and a half years of service when I found out I made chief. It was one of the greatest feelings you could imagine," he said.

Sergeant Powell was born at Yongsan Army Garrison in Seoul. He calls Osan Air Base home. His mother is Korean.

"To other people, the fact I called Osan home may sound weird, but I spent eight years of my young life living there. If you add my military service, that's close to 12 years of my life. I've never lived in any other location longer than I have at Osan," Sergeant Powell said.

Sergeant Powell who is the oldest of two sons, graduated from Osan American High School in June 2000. He entered the Air Force in 2001 and arrived at his first duty station at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., in November 2001.

Chief Powell said he was extremely proud that his son chose the Air Force as his first job.

"I knew he would be a great asset to the Air Force," Chief Powell said. "He excelled in Junior ROTC in high school serving as their senior enlisted advisor, vice wing commander and wing commander. I thought joining the Air Force would be a great opportunity for him to get some experience in a job that he could take to the civilian work force if he decided not to make the military a career."

Sergeant Powell said while at Whiteman, he contemplated on separating from the Air Force, but when the opportunity for him to be stationed at Osan came up, he jumped at the chance.

"Since I spent a majority of my life at Osan, I felt like it was a true homecoming rather than a 'remote tour,'" Sergeant Powell said.

Sergeant Powell extended at Osan under the Korea Assignment Incentive Program and spent a total of three years and two months there. While there, Sergeant Powell coached football and wrestling for his former high school.

"I coached as a way of giving back since I know what it's like for dependents living at Osan Air Base," he said.

Sergeant Powell said he was supposed to serve a total of four years at Osan, but his tour was cut short because of manning cuts. He decided to request to be stationed at Kunsan because his father was stationed here.

"I thought it would be wonderful if I could spend the last tour of his career with him," Sergeant Powell said.

Chief Powell said the opportunity to be stationed with his son has allowed for them to continue in what has always been a close relationship.

"I think it is great having him close by where we can have one-on-one conversations without having to use a phone," Chief Powell said. "We normally entertain each other on the weekends when we go to Osan and visit my wife, who is also his mother. We also enjoy going to church with our friends in the Osan area and spend time going out to eat at a restaurant downtown every now and then."

For Sergeant Powell, being able to attend his father's retirement ceremony here also gave him an opportunity to share an additional special moment as he plans on reenlisting at his father's retirement ceremony.

"I've been thinking about doing this for a long time. Even before I was stationed down here," he said. "I tried to think of doing something to make my father's last year in the Air Force a memorable one. It would be one of the last things he'll get to see in his career and it would also represent my passion in serving in the U.S. Air Force."

Sergeant Powell said it's been a wonderful feeling serving side-by-side with his father.

"It feels good knowing I got to serve next to my father. I know not a lot of fathers get to serve with their sons or daughters at the same bases they are at, so I feel very fortunate that I was given this opportunity," he said. "This is definitely something I will always carry with me in my career and something that I will never forget."

Chief Powell said that being at Kunsan with his son has been a great opportunity and he couldn't be any more proud of his son.

"I have two sons who make me prouder and prouder every day."

Sergeant Powell said he feels nothing but admiration for his father.

"He is the definition of an American Airman who served his country until the very end," he said. "He taught me a lot throughout my life and I know that I am the man I am today because of him."