SPC DAVIS

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Contents

DEDICATION.....................................................3FOREWORD.......................................................4PROLOGUE.......................................................5ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...............................................7INTRODUCTION...................................................8CHAPTER 1: WHO IS SPC DAVIS?...................................9CHAPTER 2: CHARACTER FOUNDATION................................25CHAPTER 3: MILITARY RETIREMENT.................................29CHAPTER 4: GOD GIVEN POTENTIAL.................................35CHAPTER 5: THE PRE-IRAQ INVASION...............................45CHAPTER 6: THE WAR BEGINS......................................51CHAPTER 7: THE POST-IRAQ WAR INVASION..........................65CHAPTER 8: THE ABDUCTION IN KELLY HILL.........................75CHAPTER 9: MAYHEM: THE ABUSED SOLDIER..........................81CHAPTER 10: THE DESPERATE SEARCH, AWOL.........................91CHAPTER 11: THE MURDER.........................................99CHAPTER 12: POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.....................111CHAPTER 13: THE ARREST.........................................119CHAPTER 14: THE TRIAL..........................................123CHAPTER 15: THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.............................149CHAPTER 16: THE EVIDENCE.......................................153CHAPTER 17: THE FUNERAL........................................161CHAPTER 18: MOURNING AFTER.....................................167CHAPTER 19: BEFORE AND AFTER THE FACT..........................183CHAPTER 20: LIFE AFTER LOSS....................................189EPILOGUE.......................................................205ENDORSEMENT....................................................206THE AUTHOR.....................................................207REFERENCES.....................................................209INDEX..........................................................210ABBREVIATION INDEX.............................................214

Chapter One

Long before joining the Army, he had excelled in reading and the arts. He was awarded a "Junior Author" blue ribbon in sixth grade and received A+'s in Arts at Francis Howell Central High in St. Charles, Missouri. He also went through the common rebellious phase of teenage life. He spent his after-school hours skateboarding with friends and cousins in dangerous places – most of the time without wearing a helmet and shin guards. He dyed his hair with blond streaks and wore pants that swept the floor. He racked up speeding tickets in his pride and joy electric blue Honda Civic. He worked part-time delivering pizzas. He kept himself occupied with positive activities atypical of a boy his age. At 16, he joined an Army Reserve program as a weekend warrior with once monthly weekend training, and upon high school graduation, Richard joined the U.S. Regular Army.

Like those who currently serve and like all of those who have served honorably, and dedicated their lives to their country, SPC Richard T. Davis was a soldier. At many points in life, we make pivotal decisions. One of these decisions can be to serve our country. Some join the service for the GI Bill. Some do it to put a roof over their heads, food on their tables and provide medical coverage for their loved ones. Some choose to do it for adventure. Some enlist for something to do, "just because." The reasons do not matter. What does matter is the sense of pride and patriotism that brings them to answer the call, a vocation to put on the uniform and serve.

One of Richard's NCOs (non-commission officer) called him "a dreamer and a creator, a man who saw things differently from the rest of us, set apart from the rest of the pack. He recalled that while in Baghdad, Richard collected items which, to others, appeared as nothing more than junk and with ingenuity created an elaborate stove system. Richard used this stove to make a variety of things for the platoon. He made coffee, Freedom fries and all rarities of food he could find to cook.

According to one of his sergeants, Richard once gave his last cigarette away, in the heat of the battle, to calm the nerves of a fellow soldier. His sergeant described his generosity as "looking out for your buddy." During times of stress, his sense of humor and keen choice of words would instantly make his fellow soldiers smile.

He completed basic training at Fort. Jackson, South Carolina, then was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas with the First Cavalry, Field Artillery Unit. When he was with the Cavalry Division, his idol was Elvis Presley. He admired Elvis not only as an enlisted soldier but also as the king of rock and roll. He also liked Elvis' hairstyle, his dance moves, and his big sunglasses.

In the late 90's, Richard served a tour of duty in wartime Bosnia as a driver for the Battalion Commander and a machine gunner. It was during that time that he witnessed the discovery and excavation of the mass graves.

In 2000, he returned home on leave with pain in his eyes. He could not understand how humanity could be so cruel and heartless. It was apparent that he was not the same fun-loving Richard anymore. He used to tell me, "Mom, mean people suck."

On September 11, 2001, he decided to leave the army, but on his return home, he found it difficult to adjust to civilian life. Subsequently, he rejoined the army and was then stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. That was where the real torment began. He was thrown into a unit where discipline and leadership were absent. He had expressed sympathy for his Sergeants who had difficulties with their problematic and incorrigible subordinates. He gave unconditional and complete support to his supervisors.

He joined Baker Company in April 2001, and immediately deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Spring. His unit, the Third Brigade, Third Infantry, returned home in the fall of 2002. Their visit was brief as they quickly returned to Kuwait in preparation for the Operation Iraqi Freedom invasion of Iraq, ordered by then Commander in Chief, 43rd President George W. Bush. Richard served as a rifleman during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and looked to Audie Murphy for his foot soldier inspiration. Murphy was a well-decorated war hero and veteran of the Second World War as well as a Hollywood movie star, who had portrayed himself in the 1955 Cinemascope war film, "To Hell and Back." Richard too had his share of "Hell and back" at Kelly Hill and in Baghdad.

In February 2003, Richard sent us a card. It was the last letter we received from him. On the front of the card is a cartoon camel smiling with a holiday recipe inside titled, "How to Stuff a Camel." He was probably laughing when he bought the card. The card would make me smile even while in my grief.

"I live in a 60-man tent with no heat or electricity. Get to take a cold shower every 4 days. It is only going to get worse from here. They don't know when we're coming home. Rumor is we're moving North on February 12. All I am doing now is training – that is all we do. The only thing keeping me going is watching all the.... complain about the living conditions. You can send me a package no bigger than a shoebox. Well, that is it for now. Love, Rich".

On March 19, 2003, Richard's Platoon formed the very tip of the spear which spearheaded the Invasion of Iraq. They led the US assault on the...