thedrifter
07-14-04, 08:57 AM
Issue Date: July 19, 2004
Top honor
Quiet leatherneck’s skills, courage earn his unit’s respect
By Laura Bailey
Times staff writer
Last spring, a highly trained group of special operators claimed its legacy in the annals of Operation Iraqi Freedom after rescuing prisoner of war Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital.
But while Lynch was celebrated as a hero and members of the rescue team received their acclaim in the media, there were other less heralded Marines operating in the shadows of that legendary night.
One of those quiet leathernecks was Staff Sgt. Wade M. Davis, a helicopter crew chief whose unsung achievements and everyday service deserve recognition, said members of his unit, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
After being nominated by members of his squadron, Davis was selected as the Marine Corps Times 2004 Marine of the Year in June and was flown to Washington, D.C., for a July 8 awards ceremony.
“I was taken aback when I read about the other individuals,” Davis said. “I thought, ‘I didn’t do anything like that.’”
But the man who officially nominated Davis says the credit is more than due.
“It’s guys like him who give our Marine Corps its legacy,” said Maj. Todd J. Oneto, who participated in the planning of the Lynch rescue mission and who is the operations officer for Davis’ squadron.
“He’s one of those few people you serve with that really inspires you, who are a cut above the rest,” he said. “He just happens to be one of those guys.”
Davis, who is known in the aviation community for being exceptionally knowledgeable in tactics for aircrews, was crew chief aboard one of the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters that flew members of the Lynch rescue team to the rescue zone. With soot from a nearby oil refinery completely blackening the night sky, Davis and members of his and one other aircraft were responsible for delivering the task force to the rescue area and later for getting them — and Lynch — back to safety.
It was Davis’ extreme professionalism, competence and dedication that got him selected for the mission and earned him the respect of his peers and superiors, Oneto said.
Davis, who has worked extra hours to fill voids created by manpower shortages, has excelled “under workloads that most Marines would consider impossible,” Oneto said.
Before the squadron’s January 2003 deployment for OIF, Davis — who was working in both the squadron’s safety and operations branches — worked to ensure the aircrews in his squadron were better prepared to assist the casualties they might evacuate during the war.
After hearing about the combat lifesaver program, which teaches basic combat medic skills, Davis, who was a certified nurse’s aide for two years before joining the Corps, pushed his squadron, nicknamed the “White Knights,” to sign him up.
“I looked at that as a great opportunity,” Davis said. He had heard Navy corpsmen were expected to be undermanned for the wartime demands.
Through his efforts, 45 crew chiefs and aerial observers in the squadron were trained in CPR, first aid, treating traumatic injuries and setting up intravenous lines.
The squadron evacuated 122 casualties from Iraq and was better prepared because of Davis’ efforts, Oneto said.
In Iraq, Davis urged squadron members to practice their newly learned medical skills. Some helped corpsmen set up IVs for casualties, while others practiced setting up IVs on each other during downtime.
The fourth option
Davis, from Ogden, Utah, came to the Corps in 1997 after completing a two-year religious mission with the Mormon church in Pennsylvania.
After returning home, he said he was bored with his life in Utah and began brainstorming exciting things to do with a couple of friends.
“Our choices were picking pineapples in Hawaii, doing the salmon run in Alaska or working on a cruise ship,” he said.
A little more thought and Davis, whose father served in the Army, came up with a fourth option — the Marine Corps. Also, his stepfather served in the Air Force and an uncle served in the Navy.
The 30-year-old staff sergeant said he wanted to try something challenging and liked the idea of adding another service to the family résumé.
Davis was selected as one of two in his squadron to attend the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.
The prestigious course includes instruction on tactics for aircrews and how to identify ground threats.
And he’s always quick to share his know-how, Oneto said.
“Any time we are out on a flight, even in Iraq, if we were on a transport flight from point A to point B, he’d be trying to teach guys in the back,” Oneto said. “He’d say ‘See that tank hole over there? How far away do you think that is?’” to teach Marines about distance estimation.
“He’s one of the most tactically minded crew chiefs I’ve ever had the pleasure to serve with,” Oneto said.
Since returning from his deployment to Iraq, Davis has twice been requested by MAWTS-1 to serve as an augment instructor at the WTI course. His squadron also has nominated him for the Marine Corps Aviation Association enlisted aircrew of the year award, a mark of esteem in the aviation community.
The Marine of the Year award is given each year in an effort to recognize an “everyday hero,” who exemplifies outstanding professionalism, concern for other service members and community service. All candidates are nominated by Marine Corps Times readers.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=0-MARINEPAPER-3070831.php
Ellie
Top honor
Quiet leatherneck’s skills, courage earn his unit’s respect
By Laura Bailey
Times staff writer
Last spring, a highly trained group of special operators claimed its legacy in the annals of Operation Iraqi Freedom after rescuing prisoner of war Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital.
But while Lynch was celebrated as a hero and members of the rescue team received their acclaim in the media, there were other less heralded Marines operating in the shadows of that legendary night.
One of those quiet leathernecks was Staff Sgt. Wade M. Davis, a helicopter crew chief whose unsung achievements and everyday service deserve recognition, said members of his unit, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
After being nominated by members of his squadron, Davis was selected as the Marine Corps Times 2004 Marine of the Year in June and was flown to Washington, D.C., for a July 8 awards ceremony.
“I was taken aback when I read about the other individuals,” Davis said. “I thought, ‘I didn’t do anything like that.’”
But the man who officially nominated Davis says the credit is more than due.
“It’s guys like him who give our Marine Corps its legacy,” said Maj. Todd J. Oneto, who participated in the planning of the Lynch rescue mission and who is the operations officer for Davis’ squadron.
“He’s one of those few people you serve with that really inspires you, who are a cut above the rest,” he said. “He just happens to be one of those guys.”
Davis, who is known in the aviation community for being exceptionally knowledgeable in tactics for aircrews, was crew chief aboard one of the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters that flew members of the Lynch rescue team to the rescue zone. With soot from a nearby oil refinery completely blackening the night sky, Davis and members of his and one other aircraft were responsible for delivering the task force to the rescue area and later for getting them — and Lynch — back to safety.
It was Davis’ extreme professionalism, competence and dedication that got him selected for the mission and earned him the respect of his peers and superiors, Oneto said.
Davis, who has worked extra hours to fill voids created by manpower shortages, has excelled “under workloads that most Marines would consider impossible,” Oneto said.
Before the squadron’s January 2003 deployment for OIF, Davis — who was working in both the squadron’s safety and operations branches — worked to ensure the aircrews in his squadron were better prepared to assist the casualties they might evacuate during the war.
After hearing about the combat lifesaver program, which teaches basic combat medic skills, Davis, who was a certified nurse’s aide for two years before joining the Corps, pushed his squadron, nicknamed the “White Knights,” to sign him up.
“I looked at that as a great opportunity,” Davis said. He had heard Navy corpsmen were expected to be undermanned for the wartime demands.
Through his efforts, 45 crew chiefs and aerial observers in the squadron were trained in CPR, first aid, treating traumatic injuries and setting up intravenous lines.
The squadron evacuated 122 casualties from Iraq and was better prepared because of Davis’ efforts, Oneto said.
In Iraq, Davis urged squadron members to practice their newly learned medical skills. Some helped corpsmen set up IVs for casualties, while others practiced setting up IVs on each other during downtime.
The fourth option
Davis, from Ogden, Utah, came to the Corps in 1997 after completing a two-year religious mission with the Mormon church in Pennsylvania.
After returning home, he said he was bored with his life in Utah and began brainstorming exciting things to do with a couple of friends.
“Our choices were picking pineapples in Hawaii, doing the salmon run in Alaska or working on a cruise ship,” he said.
A little more thought and Davis, whose father served in the Army, came up with a fourth option — the Marine Corps. Also, his stepfather served in the Air Force and an uncle served in the Navy.
The 30-year-old staff sergeant said he wanted to try something challenging and liked the idea of adding another service to the family résumé.
Davis was selected as one of two in his squadron to attend the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.
The prestigious course includes instruction on tactics for aircrews and how to identify ground threats.
And he’s always quick to share his know-how, Oneto said.
“Any time we are out on a flight, even in Iraq, if we were on a transport flight from point A to point B, he’d be trying to teach guys in the back,” Oneto said. “He’d say ‘See that tank hole over there? How far away do you think that is?’” to teach Marines about distance estimation.
“He’s one of the most tactically minded crew chiefs I’ve ever had the pleasure to serve with,” Oneto said.
Since returning from his deployment to Iraq, Davis has twice been requested by MAWTS-1 to serve as an augment instructor at the WTI course. His squadron also has nominated him for the Marine Corps Aviation Association enlisted aircrew of the year award, a mark of esteem in the aviation community.
The Marine of the Year award is given each year in an effort to recognize an “everyday hero,” who exemplifies outstanding professionalism, concern for other service members and community service. All candidates are nominated by Marine Corps Times readers.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=0-MARINEPAPER-3070831.php
Ellie