Learning from the Example of
Chaplain David Knight

By Ch. (Col.) John F. Reutemann III, 22nd Chief of Chaplains

On Monday the 16th of June, Rocky Mountain Region lost its spiritual shepherd, Ch. David Knight, after a long battle with cancer. His story is worth telling and his example is worth emulating.

I got to know Dave in 2015 during my first active duty assignment when I stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls, MT, and simultaneously serving as the CAP wing chaplain. My first task as wing chaplain was to recruit other chaplains since there were a whopping three chaplains in the wing – including me – and one was essentially retired. I received a lead from the Butte Composite Squadron that there was a local pastor, Dave Knight, who wanted to join but they weren’t sure if he met the chaplain appointment requirements. I reached out to him and the rest is history. We worked to get him appointed as a CDI first and then later as a chaplain when he met those additional requirements. As an Air Force vet, having served in Vietnam from 1969–1973, he was adamant that he wear the Air Force-style uniform. So, he made the drive to Great Falls and I took him shopping at the Malmstrom AFB BX for all his uniform items.

 

With great pride, he once again wore the cloth of our country proudly, displaying his previously-earned ribbons and badges on his CAP uniform. Throughout this past decade, whenever I’d see him again at wing, region, or national events, he was always in perfect uniform, and he would openly share how he had to keep up with his PT in order to continue enjoying the privilege of wearing the AF-style uniform. He didn’t just wear the uniform correctly, he wore the correct uniform. That is, unlike some who seemingly ignore published dress codes and wind up either over- or under-dressing for the occasion, Ch. Knight always wore the correct uniform (be it Mess Dress, Service Dress, short-sleeve Blues, ABUs, or their Corporate equivalents), and he wore it correctly.

Dave also took very seriously the senior member professional development program, and he strenuously worked up the ranks as quickly as possible. Although he was never a cadet, he surely served as an example to the cadets by living that final line of the Cadet Oath to “advance my education and training rapidly to prepare myself to be of service to my community, state and nation.” He wanted to get to the Level V course at the University of Rocky Mountain Region this summer since that was all he had left for the Wilson Award, but made the difficult decision to postpone until next summer in order to continue his cancer treatments. I told him that he made the right decision and promised to save my old Lt Col insignia for him. He would have made a wonderful Lt Col and maybe even a great full-bird Colonel Chief of Chaplains one day, too. After all, he succeeded me as both Montana Wing Chaplain and later as Rocky Mountain Region Chaplain, so why not at national too!

As an aside, I have to share what he said when he found out that I was named Chief of Chaplains last August. I still have it in my phone. He texted me: “WOW! Is Gen Aye crazy?!” After I agreed with him that she was likely crazy for selecting me, he of course assured me of his continued prayers and offered his assistance. Unto the end, he remained in regular communication – a rare skill nowadays. I will treasure the informal emails and text messages that I have from him dating back a full decade, often providing updates of his ministry, old war stories, and promises of prayer.

I was honored to be asked by Dave’s widow Millie to serve as the officiant of his funeral on 26 July, and was blessed to have a number of co-officiants from the Chaplain Corps with me, namely Ch. (Col.) Jeff Johnson, who was Ch. Knight’s deputy region chaplain and now serves as the region chaplain; Ch. (Lt. Col.) Mike Morison, the Chief of HCX; and Lt. Col. Dave Snyder, the CDI of HCX. On that Saturday morning, as a little mountain church in Butte, Montana, filled up with cadets, senior members, American Legion members, Air Force honor guard, parishioners, and family and friends alike who traveled from far and wide, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the immense impact that Dave clearly made on all around him. Maj. Erik Eichner, who attended Character Development classes as a cadet under Ch. Knight, skillfully prepared the cadet honor guard beforehand as the squadron’s current commander (and wing’s deputy commander!). Cols. Robin & Warren Vest (the former IDWG & MTWG commanders, respectively) took their place among the mourners, and Col. Jason Hess, the Rocky Mountain Region commander, read one of the Scripture readings. Lt. Col. Bill Bowden, who was the squadron commander at the time of Dave’s joining, read his obituary. I won’t repeat it here as it can be easily Googled, but suffice it to say that Ch. Knight was a model husband, father, pastor, chaplain, and airman.

We all came to celebrate the life of one who exuded our core values of integrity, service, excellence, and respect. Ch. Knight’s life was by no means easy – and was often filled with challenges – but he received each day as a blessing and persevered to the end. May we all strive to be as impactful as Dave was! He has set the example, we just need to follow.