125 Years of Family Serving Family – Lewis Bailey, Office Associate, KMCC, Germany

As an office associate at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Exchange, Lewis Bailey is reflecting on his fruitful career.

One in a series of honoring the Exchange’s 125 years of family serving family

When Lewis Bailey was drafted into the Army 50 years ago, he faced being deployed to Vietnam. Yet even while the Vietnam War raged, Bailey was honored to be serving his country.

“At that time, I didn’t know if I would have to go to Vietnam,” Bailey said. “But if I had to, I would‒ you have to take care of your country.”

In December 1970, the Greensboro, South Carolina, native was sent to Fort Meade in Maryland to begin his Army training. After finishing his military training as an engineer, Bailey was sent to Frankfurt, Germany, for his first duty assignment‒ missing the draft to report to Vietnam by three months.

“The Army taught me to stand on my own two feet and that serving our country is a great honor,” Bailey said.

While stationed in Germany, Bailey fell in love with the country and decided he wanted to return to Germany to travel after serving his three-year tour in the Army.

“The plan was to do as much touring as possible and then return to the states,” Bailey said. “But, I got a job with the Exchange as a sales associate and ended up staying.”

For 47 years Bailey faithfully served the Exchange and its customers, and now as an office associate at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Exchange, he is reflecting on his fruitful career.

“The Exchange is a wonderful organization to work for,” he said. “The team embodies the core value of family serving family.”

Bailey has relished his time with the Exchange and is honored to have served his fellow military service members through the Exchange for nearly half a century. Bailey plans to retire after a few more years, hoping to reach the half-century mark for his Exchange service.

“I love being a part of the military community and helping our troops,” Bailey said. “We go where they go and we are their home away from home.”

Facebook-friendly version:  When Lewis Bailey was drafted into the Army 50 years ago, he faced being deployed to Vietnam. Yet even while the Vietnam War raged, Bailey was honored to be serving his country.