PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — Although he retired last week after hitting the 30-year mark, a father has passed a legacy of Air Force service to his son at Kunsan Air Base.

Chief Master Sgt. Owen Powell retired during a Wednesday ceremony at Kunsan’s Loring Club. During the same occasion, his son, Staff Sgt. Jon Powell, re-enlisted.

“I tried to think of doing something to make my father’s last year in the Air Force a memorable one,” Jon Powell was quoted as saying in a wing news release.

Service at Kunsan isn’t the only connection the two have to South Korea: The younger Powell was born at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul and graduated from Osan American School in June 2000.

And, of the elder Powell’s 13 Air Force assignments, six were in South Korea.

“If you add my military service, that’s close to 12 years of my life,” Jon Powell said. “I’ve never lived in any other location longer than I have at Osan.”

During his first assignment at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Jon Powell mulled leaving the service. But when the chance arose for assignment to Osan, he grabbed it.

He later asked to be stationed at Kunsan because his father was there.

His father said in the release that he, his wife and son normally entertain each other on weekends and enjoy going to church with friends in the Osan area and occasionally dining at a downtown restaurant.

“I know not a lot of fathers get to serve with their sons or daughters at the same bases they are at,” Jon Powell said, “so I feel very fortunate I was given this opportunity.”

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