Haiti native serves her beloved country, United States

MOSUL, IRAQ

11.19.2004

Courtesy Story

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Story by: Staff Sgt. Fred Minnick

MOSUL, Iraq -- Spc. Darline Davis grew up in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country -- Haiti. Surrounded by poverty and living in a country where more than 60 percent of the people are unemployed, Davis" mother wanted her child to have opportunity, to get an education and enjoy a country that stood for freedom. When Davis was 14, her mother died and she began to take the steps to honor her mother's wishes.

Her father, David Madere, had moved to Miami, when she was a young child, so she already had a connection in the United States.

"I wanted a new beginning and wanted to have the opportunity to go to college," said Davis, who eventually moved to Miami at age 17. "The United States is like no other country in the world."

When she first arrived in the States in 1997, the country she had read about was even more magnificent than she imagined. Davis said she'll never forget seeing people freely walking the streets and beaches of Florida.

"It was just a neat feeling seeing Americans enjoy life," she said. "It's just such a great country." Shortly after moving to Florida, Davis made a decision to help preserve everything that she loved about America -- democracy, free speech, the right to vote, etc. -- even though she was not a U.S. citizen. She joined the U.S. Army.
"I wanted to be a Soldier and make a difference," she said. "I also wanted to travel."

Stationed at the Aviano Air Force Base in Aviano, Italy, Davis is currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II with the 99th Transportation Detachment, Movement Control Team. At the Iraq-Turkey border, Davis ensures the civilian supply trucks from Turkey moving into Iraq are prepared to take the long, dangerous trip into a combat zone. Perhaps her most important duty, she said, is linking up the truck drivers with their military escorts. On average, Davis manages 100 to 200 trucks a day in the "Yard," the large staging area for truckers.

"This job is incredibly important," said Davis" commander, Capt. Curtis Johnson. "We have to work with Iraqi and Turkish customs, and ensure each truck is ready to make the long haul into Iraq. Without us working with these truckers, making sure everything is in order, it would be much more difficult to move supplies into Iraq. And our Soldiers do a magnificent job."

Deployed since August, Davis has picked up a little of three languages: Kurdish, Turkish and Arabic. She said the most enjoyable part of her job is just talking to the truckers.

"I really like my job, especially taking care of the truckers because they put themselves at risk every day just to feed their families," she said. "My goal with each trucker is to see him twice."

According to her fellow Soldiers, Davis has become a friendly face the Iraqis and Turkomen look forward to seeing.

"She was one of the first people in our unit to work the Yard," said Sgt. Ketura Mosley-Frazier, 99th Trans. Det., MCT. "She really knows what she's doing and she stays motivated, even in adverse conditions."

Mosley-Frazier said Davis" background is a big reason why she stays focused on the job.

"Coming from Haiti, I think she has perspective and a greater appreciation than other Americans," Mosley-Frazier said. "She's also very opinionated and doesn't take anything for granted."

One thing Davis doesn't take for granted is the opportunity to become a U.S. citizen. Although she married an American and had the opportunity to receive a marriage-based citizenship, Davis declined.

"She wanted to earn it," Mosley-Frazier said. "She wants to be a citizen, but she wants to get it on her own."

In July, Davis had the opportunity to interview for her citizenship, but she received orders to deploy to Iraq.

"I had to write the [citizenship] approving authorities and tell them I was going to Iraq," Davis said. "They were very understanding." When her deployment is over, Davis will interview for her citizenship. What will she do once she becomes a citizen?
"I can't wait to vote and donate blood," Davis said with a smile from ear to ear.

• Date Taken: 11.19.2004
• Date Posted: 11.19.2004 17:07
• Story ID: 624
• Location: MOSUL, IQ