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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Dec 3, 2008 - 11:51:18 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Sgt. Richard Davis, from Searcy, Ark., places a few jabs at a punching bag near his office. Davis is an entry control point sergeant of the guard with the 1123d Transportation Company, an Arkansas National Guard unit, attached to the 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry Regiment, an Indiana National Guard unit, attached to the 1st Sustainment Brigade. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. George Fowler, 1123d Trans. Co., 1-52nd CAV, 1st Sust. Bde.) |
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - It takes a true native of Arkansas to understand Sgt. Richard Davis, of Searcy, Ark. His accent is as thick as they come, but so is his dedication.
Joining the military wasn't an easy decision for Davis to make. It took him three years after his brother asked him to join before he actually did, back in 1987. He enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard as a Field Artilleryman.
When his unit moved from West Memphis, Ark., to Russellville, Ark., he looked for another home - and found it in the 1123d Transportation Company in North Little Rock, Ark. During the transition to the 1123d, Davis also changed jobs - he became a cook.
"I was as a cook when I deployed the first time with the 1123d back in April of 2003," recalled Davis. The 1123d was deployed until April of 2004, performing convoys and convoy security, which entailed long days and little variety - so being a cook meant you were a very popular person. "I didn't want to go, but I got to know a lot of people and it wasn't bad," says Davis.
The scariest thing that happened to Davis during the first deployment was that one of the munitions stockpiles caught fire; launching rockets everywhere. "My heart was in my throat," explains Davis, as a rocket that was heading straight towards him veered off and exploded harmlessly in the distance.
In 2007, Davis was mobilized once again with the 1123d, this time as part of a force protection mission. Davis is now an entry control point sergeant of the guard with the 1123d Transportation Company, an Arkansas National Guard unit, attached to the 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry Regiment, an Indiana National Guard unit, attached to the 1st Sustainment Brigade.
Sgt Davis' wife, Monica and three children, Daria, Terrika, and Shanika fully support him during his deployment.
"When I get back I plan to go to Mississippi for a year to help train my fellow Soldiers heading over to Iraq and Afghanistan.
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