The Romeo Observer - Romeo, Michigan: Northern Macomb County's weekly newspaper since 1866

Breaking News

CURTIS OSTRANDER	DUAINE HARDING
ELEANOR TODD	ELMER "BUD" HAHN
GERVASE KILEY	MARIAN SUTTON
ORLO KIRKUM	SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
Browse Full Text...

» Inside

Public Notices
Links
About Us
News Stands
Subscriptions
Editorial Forms
Archives

» Deadlines

Friday, 2 pm
Inserts

Friday, 5 pm
Retail Display
Editorial

Monday, Noon
Classified Display
Service Directory Display

Monday, 2 pm
Service Directory Liners

Monday, 3 pm
Classified Liners

All Holiday Deadlines are One Full Workday Earlier

MERITORIOUS AWARD. Seen above are Romeo native Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Lewinski, his wife Kelly and their son, Nicholas. Lewinski was recently awarded a Bronze Star for his leadership and service during a tour in Afghanistan. Below, Lewinski has served in the U.S. Army for 15 years. The 1993 Romeo High School graduate said he plans to retire after 20 years of service.

(Photos courtesy of Kelly Lewinski)

Romeo solider earns
Bronze Star for leadership

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      A Romeo soldier is receiving one of the highest honors for his leadership efforts in Afghanistan.
       U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Christopher Lewinski will receive the Bronze Star medal for exceptionally meritorious service while serving as a senior human resources (HR) sergeant during Operation: Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

A Bronze Star is given for bravery, acts of merit or meritorious service, and is considered the ninth highest award for U.S. military decorations. Immediately below it is the Purple Heart, given for those who have been wounded or killed while serving in the military.
       Lewinski said when he found out he was receiving the medal he felt honored to receive such a prestigious award.
       "I'm grateful for having a chain of command that had faith and confidence in my leadership ability during my 12 months here in Afghanistan," he said.
       Lewinski is in his 15th year of serving in the military. He will be awarded the medal for serving as human resources sergeant of the 3rd squadron, 61st Calvary Regiment in Afghanistan from May 22, 2009 to May 30, 2010.
       As the HR sergeant, he and his team provide personnel services support to over 700 civilians and soldiers in their forward operating base, such as paperwork, handling inbound and outbound flight coordination and more than two tons of mail per week.
       Residents may recognize him better as Christopher Miller, who graduated from Romeo High School in 1993. Since he began his military career, Lewinski has been deployed to Iraq for 15 months and has been stationed in Germany and deployed in Kosovo.
       According to the U.S. Army's Web site, Lewinski was awarded the David L. Clark leadership award, presented when he graduated from the Warrior Leaders Course on Feb. 19, 2009.
       His stepmother, Sherri Lewinski, said when she heard the news about the Bronze Star she couldn't feel more proud.
       "He tells us all the time, `would you rather I be over there fighting or someone who doesn't want to be?'" she said. "We're very proud of him, and in his 15 years he has accomplished so much."
       Lewinski said he was inspired to join the military because college wasn't in his best interests, so his mother encouraged him to talk to an Army recruiter.
       "As I sit back and smile, I think it was a hint from my mother that I had to do something with my life," he said. "The best feeling I get by serving in the military is knowing my job and mission is serving a purpose to help keep my country and family safe."
       He admits it isn't without its sacrifices, though. He said the long and numerable deployments make it hard to constantly leave his wife and two sons.
       "It's hard to say goodbye to your family when you have to deploy to go into harm's way," he said.
       His goal is to retire once he completes 20 years of service so he can spend more time with his family, whom he keeps in contact with at least once a week while deployed.
       His wife of three years, Kelly, is currently living in Romeo with Lewinski's family while he is away. She said she is always proud of him and the work he accomplishes.
       "I think he is suited for the job that he does," she said. "Although I don't like being away from him, he is good at his job and I am 100 percent supportive of him."