Reserve Airmen remember, honor fallen comrade

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Anna-Marie Wyant
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing gathered to honor and remember their fallen comrade, Maj. Kevin Wilkins, at a memorial service on base Oct. 14. Wilkins, a critical care nurse with the 920th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, died from a brain tumor in 2008.

"Kevin was an extremely hardworking, extremely talented critical care nurse," said Col. Lewis Neace, 920th ASTS commander. "He was always here, always striving for excellence. For you newcomers who didn't know him, I'm sorry you didn't have the pleasure."

Wilkins joined the ASTS in 1996 after spending nearly a decade in the Marine Corps and Army National Guard. Lewis said Wilkins was great Airman and a great role model.

"Everything he did, he did with excellence, and he never left anybody behind; he always brought people up to his level of excellence," Neace said. "He never gave up on anybody. He led from the front."

During the memorial service, the 920th ASTS presented a plaque to Wilkins' family.

"Major Kevin E. Wilkins... inspired us by his example. He lifted us up with his faith. Citizen Soldier, Airman, family man and caregiver," the plaque read.

Wilkins' wife, Jill, thanked the 920th RQW family for remembering her husband and caring for her family.

"I'm glad that we'll always have that memory of him with you guys, and my family and I are always going to live knowing that we always are going to have the love and support of this base and the military family," she said. "I can stand here and say thank you 100 times, and it's not even going to be enough to show my and my family's appreciation for what you all are doing today, what you all have done in the past, and what you all are going to do in the future for this country."