“He believed in our effort over there in Iraq. It wasn’t just a job. It wasn’t just a benefit.”
As Thanksgiving weekend draws to an end, please say a prayer for the family of Master Sgt. Anthony Davis and find a way to show lasting gratitude to him — and all those who have sacrificed for our freedom. Davis was killed while delivering humanitarian supplies in Biaj, Iraq. He had served in the Army for 26 years. He loved his job and he believed in his mission.
If this doesn’t put life in perspective for you, I don’t know what will.
Via the Baltimore Sun:
An Army master sergeant who grew up in Baltimore and graduated from St. Frances Academy was killed Tuesday while distributing food on a humanitarian mission in Biaj, Iraq, the Department of Defense said.
Master Sgt. Anthony Davis, 43, had served in the Army for 26 years and was planning to retire when his tour ended, said his brothers and sisters, who gathered yesterday in Baltimore’s Harwood neighborhood to remember the man who loved the Army so much they called him ” G.I. Joe.”
Sergeant Davis was married and had five children and one grandchild. Living in the town of Triangle in Northern Virginia, his life was intertwined with the military. His wife, Anna Davis, is an Army major based at the Pentagon. And his 26-year-old daughter, Keona Rowe, also has served.
“He died doing what he loved to do,” said Adrienne Kelly, Sergeant Davis’ sister. She said her brother, one of 17 children, didn’t talk about the dangers he faced in Iraq. He didn’t want the family to worry.
On this tour, which began in May, Sergeant Davis trained and mentored Iraqi army members and delivered food and relief supplies to poor villages. He was part of a team that assessed schools and then planned renovations and organized supplies. His daughter Diana, 18, collected soccer balls to ship to her father, who distributed them to children on his missions.
This month, the News & Messenger newspaper in Northern Virginia published an article about the father-daughter effort.
In an e-mail to the paper, Sergeant Davis wrote, “We must remain vigilant and pray that we a[re] getting through to the younger generation, who will one day inherit this nation, so that they remember us as peaceful and encouraging, not intruders and invaders.”
On Tuesday, Sergeant Davis was distributing water and food in Biaj, about 250 miles north of Baghdad, when he was shot and killed by an Iraqi security force soldier, the Defense Department said. Some news reports have indicated that a U.S. Marine was also killed and that several Iraqi civilians in line for relief supplies were injured, but an Army spokesman could not confirm that yesterday.
“He was Army in every sense of the word,” said Jorge Tardi, Sergeant Davis’ brother-in-law. “He believed in our effort over there in Iraq. It wasn’t just a job. It wasn’t just a benefit. It wasn’t just hardship pay. He was a patriot.”
A true patriot. A truly great American. He won’t be forgotten.
Please take a moment to leave a message on the Davis family’s Legacy.com page here.
One of the tributes:
November 29, 2008
I worked with MSGT Davis fielding equipment to MI brigades. He is a man of great spirit and integrity. My colleagues and I were greatly saddened to learn of his death this morning. Our condolences to the family he leaves behind.
Chris sargent (Charleston, SC)
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God bless this dedicated man and his family. They are our finest, indeed.
Amen.
God Bless Master Sgt. Anthony Davis.
What a great man.
What a great cause. To lay down your life for others is the greatest calling and show of love. There is a special crown for such people.
Some give all, all give some (and some will talk about what a waste his life was – we call them losers).
To his family: May God be with you during this time. We are thankful for his life.
Sincerely,
Chris and Bev
In times such as this, I feel as if whatever I chose to write will never quite capture my true feelings or gratitude for his (Master Sgt. Anthony Davis) or any number of other soldiers’ sacrifices.
Often times I say: some gave all, all gave some. While true, again, I don’t think it captures my heartache for his family and my heartache for having lost one of our own; who gave selflessly to his country. I recall an instance at the mall awhile back when my husband and I came upon a soldier who was dressed in Army fatigues and practicing a march…yes in the mall. All I did at the time was nod in agreement and smile. While I am sure that that could have meant something to him – I hate that I didn’t do more or at least say to him that I appreciated his service and sacrifice.
Folks, don’t make the same mistake as me… if you come across these brave men and women – thank them, hug them, buy a drink, whatever… just don’t let the opportunity to thank them pass you by.
Well said, Soap. Well said.
Back at you QT!
There’s a special place in Heaven for him how would lay down his life for another.
Peace be with you, good warrior.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
http://www.federalistpartyblog.blogspot.com
Thank you, son.
Jake
My condolences to the family of Master SGT. Anthony Davis. No more of an American hero can there be, giving his life for others. Makes me proud to be an American.
R.I.P. Master SGT. A. Davis
Thank you Master Sergeant Davis!
As we both know, an NCO is immortal. You’ve passed on your pride, skills and patriotism to countless young privates and ‘butter bars’ and they will take what you’ve given them and pass it on to their young troops when they stand up to fill your boots.
Thank you for remaining true to your ideals in your service to our country.
You represented the best of what our country stand for.
You’ve shown the world that your uniform was a symbol of duty and valor in both peace and war.
Thank you brother, now rest in well deserved peace.
Let the young men and women you’ve trained take up the mantle and continue your job.
Until there’s no need for us ol’ sergeants any more.
Well said PKAmmoTroop and thank you for your sevice to your country. Bless you.
I can only stand and salute the passing of a true hero….and offer sincere and heartfelt prayers for his family and my deepest thanks for all of their sacrifice!
Thank you sir and God bless. May you rest peaceful, you have served your time honorably.
“He was a patriot.”
I really don’t have the words.
I am awed…and inspired.
God Bless your family Master Sgt. Anthony Davis! I’m sure you’re with the Lord in a wonderful place.
Sgt. Davis epitomizes what is Great about America and also what makes America Great.
God Bless Sgt. Davis and his family.
Whoever said there are no more heroes was dead wrong. God bless Master Sgt. Davis and his family.
No words can say the depth of my gratitude. All I can think of is ‘Thank you’ and God bless you and your family.
May God the Father Almighty rest his Soul and Comfort his family.
Tears.
Another sterling example of our men and women in uniform.
God bless them, and God bless America.
Well done, soldier. Your duty here is done.
Report for duty in Heaven.
My heartfelt thanks to Sgt. Davis and my warmest condolences to his entire family. It makes me proud of what this soldier and his family have been doing for all Americans.
Thank you so much!
Thank you, MSgt. Davis. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. May God rest your soul and comfort your family. You are a true American hero.
Godspeed, Sgt. Davis, and thank you.
Prayers and well wishes for this valiant American family.
MSG Davis is a great man, a great soldier and a great human being. The best way we could honor his memory would be to carry on the mission to completion.
MSG Davis – Rest, soldier. We have the mission and we will carry on. We mourn your loss, and will miss you. But as long as there is one person who remembers you, you will not have died.
“Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.”
Respectfully,
CW4
Go in PEACE true and loyal friend… I thank you for my life, I will remember your sacrifice of YOURS… RIP SGT. DAVIS…
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the – Web Reconnaissance for 12/01/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of MSGT Davis and their tragic loss. I hope the ’security force’ puke who killed him gets the death penalty.
I’m a retired Soldier. I served in Iraq, and I can say with pride and certainty that what I and my fellow Soldiers did for our country and on the foreign fields of battle, helped make the world a better place.
Rest easy Soldier.
I was at the post office with my 4yo recently and I saw a soldier who clearly had only one leg. He was limping and you could see the metal showing beneath his fatigues. I had always tried to get the courage up to say thank you to soldiers when I saw them, but was always afraid, not knowing how they would react. But I got up the courage on this day and as he walked toward my car I reached out my hand to shake his. To my surprise, not only did he reach out to shake my hand back, but he pulled me in and hugged me and thanked me. Then another woman who was standing nearby reached out to shake his hand, and he hugged and thanked her too. He appreciated the fact that we appreciated him and his sacrifice.
When I got in the car I was crying and my daughter asked me why I was hugging a stranger in the parking lot. I tried to explain, but was at a loss to explain freedom to a 4yo. I am 38 and only recently have come to somewhat grasp the scope of my freedom.
Even as screwed up as our government is right now, this is still the greatest country on earth and it is because of people like MY one legged soldier and Master Sgt. Anthony Davis.
R.I.P. Sgt Davis. Thank you for your service. God bless the Davis family.
RIP MSG Davis.
The following is from the “Alma Mater” from West Point and it is fitting for all.
Be Thou At Peace.