Page 23 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2025 - Online Magazine

David Thames Exceptional

SENIORS

Captain, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps (Retired)

Proud American

by Barbara Jensen

avid Thames grew up in a family with a
high regard for citizenship and a great love
Dof this country. His father’s family was from
Plainview, and David grew up in the Texas hill
country. He took personal pride in being associated
with people with a strong patriotic perspective.
His relatives served in World War II as part of the
Greatest Generation. He grew up in Boy Scouts all
the way through Eagle Scout, which reinforced his
sense of citizenship.
David was fascinated by history, and the more
he studied it, the more he was interested in
the uniqueness of American history, which has
brought together so many people from such varied
backgrounds and heritages. A phrase we hear often
is that America is a “melting pot”; but he feels that
stuff melting in a pot tends to all blend together into
a rather boring gray. He prefers the term “tapestry”
where all of these unique backgrounds are woven
together into one strong fabric while still maintaining
their unique color and original quality.
In David’s family, the men were expected to serve
their country, either directly out of high school, or
at least after college. He attended the University of
Texas where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in
Early American History and a Bachelor of Science in
Education. He was then commissioned as an officer
in the US Army, serving in the Eighth Cavalry. He
served six years as an armored cavalry officer.
Meanwhile, his vocational aspiration was the church.
After serving in the Army, David went to seminary
and, in 1992, was ordained as an Episcopal priest.
He served as a parish priest in Waco, Houston, and
Beaumont, and was Rector of St. Marks in Beaumont
when 9/11 occurred. At that time of military conflict
and crisis, there was a great need for doctors, lawyers
and chaplains in the military who could focus on
the well-being of the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and

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