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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Feb 9, 2012 - 5:06:14 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Master Sgt. Daniel McCullough (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Davis (right) stand proudly in front of the flag of the United States of America during the 155th Brigade Combat Team's Farewell Ceremony held on June 9. The two Soldiers, over the age of 50, are deploying to Iraq with the 155th. Photo by Sgt. Sheila Holifield |
CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - While most people over the age of 55 are dreaming of their retirement days, several Soldiers with the 155th Brigade Combat Team out of Tupelo, Miss. are spending the next year fighting in combat.
Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Davis, the brigade command sergeant major for the 155th, joined the Mississippi Army National Guard in October 1971. In the 38 years he has been in the military he has definitely endured some changes.
"From then to now, the gamut runs from daylight to dark," said Davis. "Back then, nothing was computerized, everything was manual and all the tanks and trucks ran off gasoline."
Davis said when he joined the military, the draft had ended, but he still received a draft number.
"My number was 99 and I will never forget that," said Davis. "Although the Vietnam War was still going on, no National Guard or Army Reserve units were drafted to deploy after 1971."
Even though he didn't actually fight in the Vietnam War, Davis said the war we are fighting in today is completely different.
"There are no front lines," said Davis, who deployed with the 155th back in 2005. "At least during Vietnam, you knew who your enemy was most of the time. In this war, you have to suspect that the enemy can be anybody."
Master Sgt. Daniel McCullough, the brigade safety noncommissioned officer in charge, agreed with Davis. McCullough, who is 6 months shy of turning 60, served in Vietnam in 1969 with the United States Marine Corps.
"The enemy is completely different in this war; you can't see them and you don't know where they are," said McCullough.
Although this deployment poses several different challenges to both Soldiers, they have faith in the camaraderie of the men and women they are deploying with.
"You get extremely, extremely close to your fellow Soldier," said Davis. "And the younger Soldiers really watch out for us, always reminding us to take care of ourselves."
Both Davis and McCullough have children who will be deploying as well. Davis's daughter will be deploying with her father and the 155th, and McCullough's son, who deployed with the 155th back in 2005, will be deploying with the 223rd Engineer Battalion out of Okolona, Miss.
McCullough said the hardest thing for him will be being away from his family.
"As a former truck driver, I'm used to being gone a lot, but this is a little bit different," said McCullough.
Upon their return from Iraq, both Davis and McCullough will be retiring along with two other Soldiers they are deploying with over the age of 55.
When asked why they didn't retire before the deployment, they both had something to add.
"Although I can't do some of the same things I did 15 years ago, I feel fine and I want to be able to help my fellow Soldiers where I can," said McCullough.
Davis added, "It is my duty. I could have retired. I actually thought about it, but couldn't retire with all my fellow Soldiers going overseas. I have loyalty to my Soldiers and I couldn't look myself in the mirror every morning knowing I could have gone and contributed."
The military has been a part of both of these Soldiers' lives for over 38 years, and they said being around Soldiers and the camaraderie is what they will miss the most.
Davis said he hopes he has been a good mentor to the younger Soldiers, and hopes to give them inspiration to stay in the military and continue on.
Lending his fellow Soldiers a word of advice, McCullough said, "Take life one day at a time. No matter what career you have, that advice can stick. Some days are worse than others; that's life. Accept it and do the best you can with it every day."
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