Veteran carries on family tradition of service

Terry Ellis speaks with the Times Free Press in his office at Erlanger on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

For Sgt. Terry Ellis, it "wasn't a question" whether he would serve in the military.

It runs in the family, said Ellis, who has 29 years in the U.S. Army Reserve and whose day job is respiratory care clinical manager at Erlanger hospital.

"I knew from a young age that military service was something I was going to do," Ellis, 48, said.

"It's kind of a genetic thing. My dad was in [22 years in the Army, two Vietnam tours]; his brother served four years of active service and then transferred to the Tennessee National Guard. He retired a few years ago with 41 years of service.

"His oldest son served 22 years of active Guard time. My dad's dad, my mom's dad, my mom's stepdad, they all served in World War II. It's kind of a family thing."

He points to framed pictures on the window sill of his fourth-floor Erlanger office.

"My oldest son is currently in the Georgia National Guard. He's got four years of service and he's enrolled as a cadet at the University of North Georgia while he's working on his nursing degree. So he'll get his lieutenant bar pin next summer."

Ellis joined the Army Reserve in 1989 and was deployed as a combat medic in December 1990 in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the U.S. response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. He got interested in respiratory therapy, went to school and came to Erlanger in 1995 as a trauma therapist. He also switched his Reserve position so he could use his training there, as well.

He said service is the foundation of his life.

"I like the idea of serving people around me, whether it's being in the military, working in the health care field or in my church. Society today has become very selfish, it's all about 'me.' I want to make a good living, I want to take care of my family, but being able to serve others and make a difference in society is something I think we all should strive for."

All told, Ellis said he spent 19 years in an Army Reserve medical unit. He deployed to Kosovo as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S. response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, managing operations for the medical battalion.

Back home, he moved into management at Erlanger and switched his Reserve position again, from medicine to career counseling. He helps soldiers work on re-enlistments, advancing their careers and understanding the education, training and other benefits that come with their commitment to serve.

Helping his fellow soldiers is "the best job in the Army," Ellis said.

He uses his career-counseling skills in civilian life, too, among his friends, church family and community. A lot of young people ask him for information about military service.

"It's not for everybody," Ellis said. "If you're going in the military thinking, 'I need college money,' if you're looking for the benefits, you can't forget the fact that you are there to serve, and the potential for deployment, the potential to be put in harm's way, is a reality.

"In today's society the reserve is part of any military action that we have, and anyone who's not willing to write that blank check to the U.S. government, up to and including my life, shouldn't consider joining."

But he's thankful to have the opportunity to serve, Ellis added.

"A lot of people see people in uniform and say, 'Thank you for your service.' I have had people buy me a cup of coffee or go into a restaurant with my wife and they'll pay for our lunch and I'll have no idea who did it.

"That kind of thing is very much appreciated, but it's an awkward situation when people thank you for your service and you realize, 'Well, I'm serving because I want to serve, but you're welcome.'"

Contact staff writer Judy Walton at jwalton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6416.