Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Mark Davis, 147th Reconnaissance Wing Medical Group, examines a patients eyes...... read more read more
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ELLINGTON FIELD, Texas - As a young man, Mark K. Davis knew what he wanted to do once he finished college – join the Navy. Several family members had served in the Navy, and he wanted to follow in their footsteps. Davis wanted to be an aviator and upon graduation he went to see a recruiter to make it happen. Unfortunately, that dream was put aside once he was told he could not be a pilot because he was colorblind. The recruiter gave him other options, but none appealed to him.
Not being able to serve in the Navy as a pilot, he decided to go back to school and become an optometrist. After graduating, he opened his own practice, got married and had kids. He said he thought he would never get to serve his country and gave up on that dream.
At age 55, Lt. Col. Mark K. Davis, the optometrist for the Texas Air National Guard’s 147th Medical Group, 147th Reconnaissance Wing at Ellington Field in Houston, is proving that one is never too old to make their dreams come true.
Three and a half years ago Davis received a call from a friend who was serving in the Texas Air National Guard. The optometrist working at the wing was retiring, and they were looking for a replacement. When Davis was asked if he knew of anyone interested in joining the military and taking the job, he recommended himself.
“I finally got to serve my country,” said Davis. “God answers prayers.”
Davis is happy because not only is he serving his country, but he gets to help others.
“I think God put you on this earth to serve other human beings,” said Davis.
In the summer of 2014, Davis found himself volunteering to do just that when he participated in Operation Pacific Angel-Tonga.
Operation PACANGEL is a joint and combined humanitarian mission that takes place throughout the Pacific. It has been in operation
for seven years.
“The Nevada National Guard is actually the one linked up to go on PACANGEL, but their optometrist just had a baby and couldn’t go” said Davis. “Their commander called my commander and asked if she knew of someone who may want to go.”
Col. Rhonda M. Jahns, the147th Medical Group commander, recommended Davis for the job.
On July 11, Davis, along with the Nevada National Guard, started making his way to Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga for the PACANGEL mission.
He was one of three optometrists providing their services in the PACANGEL mission, said Davis.
“We did eye exams, treated eye infections, and did minor office surgery,” said Davis.
It was a very fast-paced environment, said Davis.
“Each doctor saw about 100 patients a day,” said Davis. “We also dispensed about 2,000 pairs of glasses. All in all, we saw about 1,500 patients, and we referred about 152 for surgery.”
Davis said he feels it is an honor to serve his country and do a humanitarian mission at the same time.
“It was kind of wonderful that I got to go,” said Davis. “I’m so blessed. I get to serve my country and serve other human beings.”
| Date Taken: | 09.06.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2014 14:55 |
| Story ID: | 144515 |
| Location: | HOUSTON, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Optometrist proves one is never too old to make dreams come true, by SGT Susanna Coronel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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