WWW.USVETERANSMAGAZINE.COM U.S. VETERANS MAGAZINE 117
thing no matter what. The thing is with our job, when we take down the bad guys, we never really know who we protected or who we saved. We just wanted to make sure our brothers and sisters in arms, along with innocent civilians, stayed safe. None of us ever took credit for the job we did or the lives we saved. Working with Jason Tuschen or Tusch was amazing. Then, he was senior chief and the senior enlisted leader of the deployed SEALS. He ran the TEAMS [with] passion, trust, brotherhood, humility and love. I am proud to call him brother to this day. One of the things about Tusch, he wouldn't think twice about sacrificing his life for a member of his team.
How did you and your family end up in the U.S.?
Because we worked with U.S. forces, me and my family were essentially on Al-Qaedas hit list. We were kafer aka infidels. Now a master chief, Tuschen and the rest of the SEALS, including Chris Kyle, petitioned [for] me and my family to leave and be resettled in the U.S.
What was the transition out of military operations into civilian life like for you? Did you have any struggles?
That is an interesting question because that's for normal people, not me. Me and my familys life was hell from childhood to when we left Iraq. I had over 1,000 missions as an interpreter, all life and death. Me and my family were always running from place to place because we were actively hunted by Al-Qaeda. When we landed in the U.S., we no longer had to run; we had the support of the SEALS, their families and the wider American community. We were, for the first time in all of our lives, SAFE. Sure, I had nightmares and uncertainty, but I had the SEALS and my new American neighbors to fall back on, so we never felt alone.
What advice would you give to military veterans that are currently struggling with depression?
First, minimize or quit alcohol and drugs; because I believe this is the perfect breeding ground for demons to control and enslave our souls. Second, stop making excuses for yourself. If you fail, you fail; who gives a shit? It is normal to fail; stop building that shield and pushing people that genuinely want to help you away. Third, feel the love, dont talk about the love; feel it. Love of family, love from your dog, animals, nature, feel it enjoy itthis is the key. Lastly, build memories, especially with those you love. These memories will shine in your present and clear your future, especially during dark times. On a side note, I consider myself very fortunate, very wealthy, but not in the financial sense. When my family arrived in the U.S., it changed our destinywe became FREE. To put it bluntly, I feel like one lucky mother f***er. I am Johnny Walker.
COURTESY OF "JOHNNY WALKER"
R
omay Davis, a World War II veteran with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, has received the highest civilian honor Congress can award, the Congressional Gold Medal. At one hundred and two years old, Davis is the oldest living member of Six Triple Eight and only one of six alive to receive this honor. The Six Triple Eight battalion was the only predominantly Black female unit that served overseas during WWII. The unit resolved a growing mail crisis during the war by ensuring American troops received their letters and packages from home. They went by the motto of no mail, no morale. The unit proved they were up to the challenge as they tackled the mountain of postal backlog that awaited them in England and France. They processed more than 195,000 pieces of mail a day, eventually clearing over 17 million pieces of mail by the end of their tour. As a minority group, the Six Triple Eight met barriers in the form of segregation and gender inequality. Living quarters, mess halls, recreational facilities and even the water fountains in basic military training were segregated. When traveling, some African American female officers faced discrimination and were questioned on the legitimacy of their ranks in the military. They were denied constitutional freedoms at home but selflessly fought for freedom as part of the U.S. armed forces overseas. Davis ceremony was held at the Montgomery City Hall in Montgomery, Alabama, on the 74th anniversary of Executive Order 9981, which banned segregation in the United States Armed Forces with state, local and military leaders. The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and Maxwell Air Force Base selected this day for the ceremony, as the Six Triple Eights courage and commitment to democracy and their honorable service paved the way for equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the Armed Forces, without regard to race, color, religion or national origin, as promised with Executive Order 9981. Nearly 80 years after their exemplary service in World War II, we finally recognize the selfless service of the 6888th with the highest distinction Congress can bestow, said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. May the honorable service of Private Davis in a segregated unit that resulted in more liberties for all Americans inspire all of us to do our part to remove civil rights barriers and truly live up to our nations founding ideals of freedom, equality and justice for all.
Source: U.S. Army
Long Overdue Congressional Gold Medal Awarded
By Airman 1st Class Greydon Furstenau
AIR FORCE/MELANIE RODGERS COX
Col. Eries Mentzer, Commander, 42d Air Base Wing; Chief Master Sgt Lee Hoover, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 42d ABW; and an Alabama National Guard Honor Guardsman present the framed citation of the Congressional Medal of Honor to Private Romay Davis at Montgomery City Hall, Alabama.
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