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    A light in the midst of darkness

    A light in the midst of darkness

    Photo By Capt. Demetria Sutton | Staff Sgt. Timothy Davis, the mortuary affairs noncommissioned officer in charge for...... read more read more

    By Capt. Demetria Sutton
    3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division

    CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – For most Soldiers deployed in a theater of operations, receiving word that one of their comrades has fallen in battle invokes feelings of sadness, lament or even anger.

    For Staff Sgt. Timothy Davis of Wynnewood, Okla., a Soldier's death signifies a call to duty. He is the mortuary affairs noncommissioned officer in charge and is assigned to 626th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.

    Whatever his personal feelings are regarding death are pushed aside in order to accomplish the mission set before him. He collects his equipment and sets out to perform his sobering role in preliminarily identifying and processing personal effects, then returning the remains of fellow Soldiers to the United States for a proper burial.

    Davis has been in the Army for going on 13 years, both as an infantry mortarman, and for the last two years as a MA NCOIC. He has deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving in each of these capacities. With every deployment he has been exposed to his share of casualties but his current title allows him to see them from a different point of view.

    The transition from participating in firefights to dealing with the ensuing casualties came for Davis after a repeat knee injury requiring surgery and forced a reclassification. He had to give up his dream job for one that was just as interesting, but less physically taxing.

    His primary job repeatedly exposes him to one of the least desirable, yet most honorable outcomes of war – death in the fight for a nation's freedom.

    When asked how he deals with the stress and gravity of such a poignant job, he says, "It's all in your mindset" and that he has to emotionally detach himself from the situation. He also notes a serendipitous, additional duty that helps him to release the emotional build-up. SSG Davis fills up his free time, which has been thankfully abundant, when no MA assistance is needed, by serving as the 626th BSB's Repair and Utilities NCO.

    As the head of R&U Davis has completed various improvement and repair projects around the battalion to include upgrading the tactical operations center floors, building a storage cabinet and making the battalion tree topper for Christmas. He even took time out to spread holiday cheer as Santa at the battalion Christmas party. He has always been "good at a lot of stuff," adding that he has been building things, since about the age of 8. One of the first projects he completed during this deployment was the shed out of which he works, which took only four days to construct from start to finish.

    That talent has made him somewhat of a local celebrity; his skill spreading throughout the brigade by word-of-mouth. He has been called upon by several other units to work his free-hand wonders in their areas of need. In fact, arrangements have been made for him to build an office for Company A, 626th BSB.

    "He's a very skilled carpenter; he takes pride in his work," said Capt. Thomas Boland of Clinton, S.C., Co. A, 626th BSB commander.

    Davis does so much for 626th BSB and 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT), to ensure Soldiers are cared for – be it during the fight or after. Perhaps, the most striking of his gifts is his humility. His work speaks volumes on his behalf, so he doesn't have to, and he doesn't. He attends to the remains of the fallen and creates a more comfortable workspace in an austere environment, almost undetected.

    "Knowing that I'm a part of that is very gratifying," Davis said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.14.2008
    Date Posted: 02.15.2008 11:14
    Story ID: 16375
    Location: BAGHDAD, IQ

    Web Views: 384
    Downloads: 374

    PUBLIC DOMAIN