CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. –
A technical sergeant from the 16th Airlift Squadron passed away Monday morning after a short battle with cancer.
Tech. Sgt. Christopher D. Rey, chief of the 16th's commander's support staff, had recently been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and began chemotherapy Aug. 25.
"Chris made a lasting impact on the 16 AS. He was the first person that new squadron Airmen met for inprocessing and the last one they went to for outprocessing," said Master Sgt. Todd Noltemeyer, 16 AS first sergeant. "As a first sergeant, I rely heavily on the commander's support staff for products and even though Chris was new to Charleston and to the 3A career field, he got things done. He did his job well and he did it with a smile."
Senior Master Sgt. Paul DeGroot, 16 AS superintendent, said Sergeant Rey had a way of cheering people up.
"The one thing that stands out most with Chris is his sense of humor. He always had a smile on his face and could sense when somebody wasn't having a good day or moment. He always made a comment that would put you at ease and pull a smile out even when you didn't really want to," he said. "His passing is not only a huge loss to his wife and family, but the Air Force lost an incredibly talented, energetic and funny NCO."
Sergeant Rey's funeral Mass is scheduled for 3 p.m. today at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 120 Broad St., in Charleston. He will be interred at the Live Oak Memorial Garden with full military honors following the funeral.
"One of our fellow warriors has fallen," said Lt. Col. Paul Eberhart, Jr., 16 AS commander. "It is our duty as military members to now
provide care and comfort to his family."