Welcome Home Soldier
U.S. Army Specialist Tony Davis, Jr. has a lot to be thankful for this holiday season—fresh off the heels of his first ever tour of duty, he is back on American soil safe and sound.
Specialist Davis enlisted in the Army after graduating from Jasper County High School in 2011. The son of Jenny Gibson and Tony Davis, Sr. said he always had plans of joining the service partially due to wanting to serve his country but mostly because he “just didn’t want to go to college” right away.
After completing basic training at Fort Benning in Columbus, the young soldier was stationed at Fort Stewart in Hinesville, near Savannah, where he returned just days ago from a 10-month tour in Afghanistan.
He departed in February for his overseas destination with his unit Charlie Troop 68 Cav, leaving behind his five-month pregnant wife, Maya Oliver Davis of Monticello, and one year old daughter, Zoey.
And yes, if you do the math, Specialist Davis left home the father of one but returned the father of two. But don’t fret too much, he witnessed the birth of his second daughter, Eryn, via Skype. In fact skyping over the world wide internet is what kept him visually connected to his family.
“I skyped everyday when possible if I was not on a mission,” he said.
“I wanted the kids to get used to hearing my voice.”
When asked what was it like to hold his baby girl for the first time, all he could muster was “different.”
‘Everything seems different coming back from Afghanistan after ten months but spending time with my new baby and toddler is so rewarding.”
While baby Eryn doesn’t make much of a fuss, toddler Zoey is keeping a close eye on daddy.
“She follows me everywhere I go. She’s really clingy and cries if I’m out of her sight.”
While the kids are adjusting to having daddy around so is wife Maya who the soldier admits has handled the military lifestyle better than he imagined. That’s good because for now Specialist Davis is planning on making a career out of military service but he said only time will tell.
He doesn’t even mind embarking on the tours of duty.
“If I had to go back I would but now I’m just appreciating being home with my wife and daughters.”
His appreciation for those he loves multiplied several times over while serving on ‘patrol control’ in the lower Afghan province. His unit returned three soldiers less than originated: one loss during an IED explosion, one loss to unfriendly gunfire, and another by a rocket launcher.
When questioned as to whether experiencing the death of three of his compatriots led to doubting or strengthening his resolve to serve on active duty he replied—both.
“It gave me doubt because I realized how easily it could have been me. I constantly thought of my wife and two daughters one of which I hadn’t seen yet?”
“But it gave me strength as well—the determination to fight harder to see the mission accomplished so that their lives were not lost in vain.”
For now, Specialist Davis is just happy to be home and counting his blessings as Thanksgiving Day approaches.
