Former Caledonia Man Says Sept. 11 Was His Call To Duty

Marty Davis was an average kid who just wanted to play football when he got to college at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

But after tearing his quad, Davis’ dreams were shattered and he soon felt like he had no direction or calling. His world would soon change, however, early one Tuesday morning in September of 2001 after witnessing the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil.

“It was the absolute furthest thing from my mind,” Davis, of , said of the terrorist attacks. “I was a young, immature kid. I think after 9/11, I woke up a little bit to how the world really is.”

The experience left an indelible mark on Davis, who would later follow his best friend into the military, joining in February 2004. Before his tour ended in July, Davis, 28, served the military for seven years.

In the military, Davis appreciated the structure and discipline that the service provided. He began to break out of the “bubble” in which he said he felt trapped while at school and his service would first take him to the National Guard infantry unit out of Ft. Atkinson.

“I joined to be part of something bigger and to give me more direction,” Davis said. “Once I got involved with the military, things took off. It was like shell shock because it’s a completely different culture. But you develop friendships and a sense of worth. They break you down and build you up.”

Davis next served as a Recruiting Assistant for the National Guard, and then volunteered for a border patrol assignment in Yuma, Ariz. Those experiences would ultimately prepare Davis for his deployment to Iraq, where he went in February 2009.

“I wasn’t scared [to go to Iraq], I was anxious,” Davis said. “I was excited to be able to go and be part of this important mission – to go there, do the right thing and come home safe.”

While Davis’ missions were classified, he said he didn’t experience any firefights. What Davis did experience, however, was a new perspective on the world. He said two things shocked him most about Iraq: the poverty and the way in which the Iraqi people greeted the American troops with gratitude.

“People here don’t understand what a third world country is like,” Davis said. “The kids don’t have a school system and they live in mud huts; you feel for the people there. The other thing that shocked me was how much they wanted us there. We got waves and high fives; the people really showed us gratitude.”

Davis left Iraq on Dec. 6, 2009 after 10 months of service. He said that although it has been controversial, he thinks the U.S. involvement has made a difference for the country.

“I feel it in my heart,” he said. “We performed our mission with honor and dignity and respect to the culture.”

Davis spent his remaining service time in the National Guard before returning home in July. Now that he is adjusting to civilian life, Davis has been presented with new sets of challenges. He is seeking treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the symptoms of which he said he noticed shortly after returning home from Iraq.

“I noticed detachment, anger, frustration, a short temper,” Davis said. “When you’re overseas and doing a job everyday, over a period of time your body will naturally adjust to the adrenaline. Then you come home and the world is moving in slow motion. The adrenaline is still going, but you don’t know how to shut it off.”

After unsuccessfully finding help through the Veterans Administration, Davis sought help from a Racine County Veteran Service Officer.

“It just helps being able to have someone to talk to,” he said. “If you talk to someone, you get different tools for your toolbox. I had a bad experience at first, but it can happen; soldiers can get lost in the shuffle. It was just an accident, though, and I don’t blame them for it.”

Still, Davis’ wife Kristin has seen firsthand the support network that the military can provide. She said other women who have loved ones fighting overseas frequently band together and provide comfort for each other.

“For me personally, I do consider myself part of the Army family,” she said. “I remember sitting in an airport, feeling proud to be part of something so big, to be part of a group and part of a family. I definitely feel proud to be part of this support group for my husband, who is fighting for this cause.”

Ten years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Davis family has seen its share of turmoil. Marty, now the owner of a lawn care business said he has no regrets about feeling the call to action and is glad he joined the military.

“I’m proud of the men I served with, I’m proud of the soldiers that continue to enlist,” he said. “I’m very proud of military members in general. Everyone has their own specific role in the military and everyone is there to sustain the mission. I’m 100 percent glad I did everything I did. I wouldn’t be who I am today without being involved.”