“It was the day after my 46th birthday that I was diagnosed,” Thomas said. “I also learned that I had actually had lung cancer for more than two years, including during my last deployment to Afghanistan.” Elizabeth said her initial reaction was shock. “I remember thinking, ‘I can’t believe I’m hearing these words,” she said. “I felt cheated. This was the first time in a while we were going to have uninterrupted family time free from deployment. I thought we were going to have all of this time together.”

Editor’s note: Staff Sgt. David L. Thomas is the son-in-law of Dr. Michael (Jeannie) McCrocklin, a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America.

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. — Every American Soldier is familiar with and strives to live by the seven Army values, but for one U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command Soldier, despite receiving a life-changing diagnosis in 2013, he continues to serve and to live by them all: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.

Staff Sgt. David L. Thomas, noncommissioned officer in charge, S-2, 1st Space Battalion, was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer that metastasized to the brain in April 2013, but has chosen to continue his service.

“I was given a prognosis of six to 18 months survival rate,” Thomas said. “What I was most disappointed about at that moment was the fact that I was selling Bethe (his wife) and our children short. Second was the fact that I would no longer be here serving in the U.S. Army doing what was the most important thing: overseeing the safety of my family and our great country via my service.”

Thomas enlisted two weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in the Delayed Entry Program until the opening date for training of his military occupational specialty. Upon enlisting, he intended to be a career service member.

“Joining the Army was something that was always on my mind since I was a child,” Thomas said. “The attacks made up my mind for me. Defending my family and America itself was no longer an option, but rather a duty. There was no time left to ponder; it was a matter of how fast I could sign up.”

Six days before his 35th birthday, Thomas reported for Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Ga. His wife, Elizabeth, had just recently begun law school, but despite the hardships, the couple decided this is what he had to do.

In March 2004, Thomas deployed to Iraq for the first time. After 13 months in Baghdad and a few months at home, he deployed again in September 2005, back to Baghdad. He returned home in January 2007, reclassed his job specialty, and in December 2008 deployed to Northern Iraq, first to Kirkuk and then to Mosul. He returned home in September 2009 and began preparing for his next deployment, this time to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in May 2011. It was during this fourth deployment that he began to notice a prevalent and chronic cough. He returned from this deployment in May 2012, and in October 2012, Thomas transferred to the 1st Space Battalion headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“I saw a doctor in January 2013, and was told I had an upper respiratory infection or the flu,” Thomas said. “I did not receive any diagnostic testing such as a chest X-ray or lung function test. I was given an antibiotic and sent on my way.”

Elizabeth had begun insisting that he go to the doctor because of the chronic cough, and finally on April 19, Thomas decided to seek medical advice.

“My wife and I were in bed watching TV when I had an episode of chest pain. I thought I had a mild heart attack,” Thomas said. “The next morning I went to the emergency room since sick call could not see me for chest pain.”

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