Levi Loomis, who grew up in Chadron and now lives with his family in Minatare, grew up wanting to someday serve in the military. He’s done just that, as he’s now in his 16th year as a member of the Nebraska Army National Guard. He’s currently a full-time training military police officer in Scottsbluff. Although that’s his primary focus and passion, his time in the military also caused him to become interested in helping youth as a coach, and he’s doing that now, too, as he’s in his fourth year as an assistant wrestling coach for Gering High School.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
MINATARE – As a youngster, Levi Loomis of Minatare loved pretending like he was in the military, either participating in training exercises or going into battle.
He had a lot of admiration for anyone who served in the military, and he often thought about serving in the military himself.
He became even more serious about it while he was attending Chadron High School, especially after he and his classmates had a chance to wave goodbye to a group of local National Guardsmen who were part of the 1057th unit being deployed to Iraq in 2003.
“After they left the armory in Chadron, they drove right past the campus of Chadron High School. All of us went outside and started waving goodbye to them,” Loomis said. “I remember thinking, ‘That’s pretty cool.’ You grow up playing Army games and thinking how cool it is, but then as a 17 year old, to actually watch them leave to go do the duty they signed up for was pretty amazing. That really made me want to join the military, too.”
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