Michael Mann finishing the 2006 Shamrock Marathon in 2:54:27.
Photo by Brightroom.

Twenty years ago, a young, opinionated Michael Mann stuck his right hand into the air and swore to bear true faith and allegiance to the United States. On August 3, Air Force Master Sergeant Michael Mann celebrated his retirement from the Air Force after 20 years to a standing room only crowd at the U.S. Joint Forces Command, Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk.

Although still opinionated, this time, Mann's hand gripped the air hose he wore to keep oxygen pumping into his lungs that are ravaged by cancer, a disease he got from second-hand smoke.

The guest speaker at the ceremony, retired Army Colonel. Bryan Stephens, acknowledged the huge turnout for what are usually mundane ceremonies.

"This is the largest crowd for any ceremony held here," Stephens told Mann. "It's an indication of the caliber of person you are, and what people think of you."

Mann has gone through many challenges in his life and career, but none are as daunting as the fight he battles now.

Mann's biggest race began after he couldn't shake the feeling something wasn't right during the Marine Corps Marathon on October 31, 2004. He placed 23rd overall and 6th in his age division.

Five months later, he ran a 5K race in 17:02, placing fourth overall and first in his age group. But for the finely-tuned athlete, Mann felt something was wrong. He had been posting times of around 15:50 prior to the Marine Corps run, so he was gunning to break his old course record of 16:22.

"It felt like I was running up the side of a mountain," he said during an interview with Soundings.

A CAT scan revealed a lung tumor. It was removed in June 2005, and three weeks later, minus the entire bottom section of his right lung lobe, Mann was running again.

Throughout six months of chemotherapy, Mann continued to run. In August 2005, Dana Reeves, the widow of actor Christopher Reeves, announced she was diagnosed with the same type of cancer. She, too, was a non-smoker. Seven months later, while Mann was training for the 2006 Shamrock Marathon, Reeves died.

Mann would place 27th out of 1,738 runners with a time of 2:54.26 in a race plagued by cold and wind. He was just 19 minutes slower than his 7th place finish in 2004.

But Mann's victory in the Shamrock turned out to be short- lived. By June 2006, the cancer was back and it was not responding well to any treatment. Yet on the days he could, Mann would run. He believes his running has kept him alive. "I've looked forward to this day for a long time and I wanted it to be a significant day," Mann said at the retirement ceremony. "Making E-5 (staff sergeant) was a big day, because then I knew I could make 20 years."

Little did he know that it would be cancer, and not his outspoken personality, that would threaten an early end to his Air Force career.

"Praise God I'm still here," Mann said. "My doctors said I wouldn't be here today. I told them to keep treating me, and I'll keep fighting and praying."

Mann admitted he had been blessed with great supervisors who could appreciate the out-spoken master sergeant who could be more than a little opinionated, and did not mind a little trash talk with other runners who wore a few more bars and stripes.

Stephens was one of those supervisors. He first met Mann at a race in downtown Norfolk five years ago. They recognized each other from work where Mann was the non-commissioned officer in charge in the Personnel and Administration Branch, Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk.

The colonel, who wanted to show he was still fit, asked Mann about his running. True to form, Mann complained "Oh, I haven't been running very much lately."

The colonel thought he might teach Mann a thing or two about running. Yet at the sound of the gun, Mann was "off like a thoroughbred."

"I still thought I could beat him and catching him at the 5- mile mark and then talk to him as I pass him," Stephens recalled, chuckling at the memory.

He did run into Mann at around the five-mile mark - except it was Mann running back after finishing the race. When he saw the colonel, he did an about-face and started jogging next to him, chatting and pushing him along.

"What I learned that day was that not only was Mike a gifted athlete, but a very humble individual," Stephens said.

He pointed out Mann was the only other person - besides the general, who would regularly come into his office and harass him, usually about fit-reps.

"Mike Mann is an outstanding leader, non-commissioned officer, teammate, and trusted and loyal friend," Stephens said. "I would drink beer with him tonight and deploy and go to war with him tomorrow. You have truly made a difference. You've carried out your duties as you do in life - with purpose and determination."

Mann's legacy to all who know him is attitude and courage, Stephens added.

"Life is 10 percent what happens to us, and 90 percent on how we deal with it," Stephens quoted evangelist Charles Swindoll. "You can't control the wind, but you can adjust the sails."

Stephens added Mann is the most courageous person he's known, who has faced adversity with guts, determination and tenacity.

"Gen. George Patton said 'Never give up.' Mike Mann is truly a courageous man."

Mark Cucuzzella, a member of the All-Air Force Marathon and Cross Country team with Mann, and also a physician, has been amazed at Mann's positive approach in both his work and while fighting cancer.

"Illness is how people approach disease," Cucuzzella said. "I've never seen Mike ill."

Mann's approach to life while fighting cancer is no different than when he is running in the Marine Corps Marathon, Cucuzzella added. Mann would even ask to run between chemotherapy sessions.

"He's never been a sick patient lying in bed," Cucuzzella noted. "Long may you run, and we'll run again someday."

During the ceremony, Mann was surprised by two officials from Saint Leo University who conferred upon him his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems. He graduated magna cum laude. Mann had been forced to withdraw from a class when he could no longer attend. Officials, however, looked over his course work and found a class they could substitute for the one he withdrew from that still allowed him to meet the requirements for graduation.

"This was very important to me, because I wanted to set an example for my children," Mann said.

Another friend, Air Force Master Sgt. Carol D. Williams, presented Mann with a huge quilt that had emblems and insignia that represented running and the Air Force, and plenty of white space for people to sign. By the end of the ceremony, it was filled with good wishes from those in attendance.

Mann said he cannot complain about his life.

"I can't change anything anyway," he joked. "I've made a lot of good friends who have bent over backwards for me, making meals and calling every day to see if I'm O.K. I didn't realize I had so many friends."

He took pride in being the only enlisted man on the Air Force running team.

"I did all of the driving, but they bought all the ice cream I could eat," he said.

Although Mann shouldn't be defined by the disease that may kill him, it has. His positive attitude and fighting spirit is what he believes has extended his life beyond all expectations from the doctors.

"Cancer can't take what's you unless you let it," Mann said. "People ask why I'm still running. Main reason? Because I'm not dead. Doctors can't factor in the human mind and spirit. You can't break it unless you allow it."

A few days after the ceremony, Mann moved to Florida with his parents, where he hopes a different environment will give his body an extra boost.