How Iraq Veteran James Davey Lived Under Constant Threat

By ⋅ March 16, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
James Davey (right) with another US soldier.

James Davey (right) with another US soldier.

James Davey did two tours in Iraq as an army medic.

The first was in the south, near Basra.

During his second deployment, he was stationed at a base near Sadr City, in Baghdad, under constant threat of attack.

In order to keep sane, he said, he told himself that every day would be his last.

“I figured that if I made that decision then I wouldn’t worry about it every day. I could just sort of do what I was supposed to do and come what may. The problem is that I did, I did make it home.”

Discussion

3 comments for “How Iraq Veteran James Davey Lived Under Constant Threat”

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/BLA7BSWEBIG3B52YPJJ6XJMANU El

    As this veteran’s mother, I spent those two tours on my knees begging God to spare my son.  It is true that the young man who came back was very different from the one who left us. But I thank God every day of my life that he made it home safely. He is a good person and he is very strong. I am so proud of the man he has become.  I am so proud he is my son.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/BLA7BSWEBIG3B52YPJJ6XJMANU El

    As this veteran’s mother, I spent those two tours on my knees begging God to spare my son.  It is true that the young man who came back was very different from the one who left us. But I thank God every day of my life that he made it home safely. He is a good person and he is very strong. I am so proud of the man he has become.  I am so proud he is my son.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Arkalem James Davey

    For my own piece of mind, I’d like to clarify some things. While I was always under the threat of indirect fire, I was not in direct combat. I served my second tour on a small FOB in Sadr City, and we frequently received casualties from the battles and IEDs there, but I only very rarely left the perimeter of our base. I didn’t decide to devalue my life out of fear that it was certain to end, but because watching the lives of other, *better* people than me fall apart or end made me feel like my life couldn’t possibly have value. I decided to stop worrying about whether or not something would happen to me, and focus all of my energy on my job. 

    I stand by my words, but I wouldn’t dare take the accolades that I clearly don’t deserve. 
    -James Davey