Soldier’s Sacrifice: Fresh from Iraq Tour, Newlywed Heading to Afghanistan

BRISTOL, Va. – Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Juston Davis of Bristol says he decided to join the military years ago not simply because of what it offered him, but what it presented to others.

“The ethics [of the military] are different from the way a lot of people present themselves,” Davis said. “In today’s society, a lot of people don’t say, ‘yes, sir’ or ‘no, sir’ or ‘thank you.’ There’s a lot of fundamentals that today’s kids don’t have, and the Army instilled that in me. It’s part of my life, part of my values.”

But now, it’s Davis who can present himself as an impressive symbol to others. A symbol of sacrificing without complaint. And a symbol of serving with commitment. 

Currently stationed at Camp Shelby, Miss., Davis soon will leave for a 13-month tour of duty in Afghanistan, a land that’s become increasingly dangerous in recent weeks.

It will come some six years after Davis served a lengthy tour in an extremely dangerous Iraq, shortly after the American invasion.

And barely any time since Davis, his wife, Melissa, and stepdaughter, Kayla, became a family – after a May 30 wedding that still hasn’t had a honeymoon because of Juston’s military commitments as a reservist.

“We’ve had only a day here, a day there together since we got married,” Melissa Davis said. “It’s hard, very hard. And it’s going to be hard when he leaves [for overseas]. But I knew that would happen from the get-go, and I support him. I’m proud to tell people my husband is a soldier.”

Juston Davis freely admits such mixed feelings make his upcoming deployment to Afghanistan difficult, much harder than the one he served years ago as younger, single man in Iraq.

But the 29-year-old soldier said it also increases his passion for serving his Afghan tour – in a support role with the 412th Theater Engineer Command – with honor and focus.

“It will be a little harder for me to walk away from my family, but I’m going with a sense of pride,” he said.  “I’m very proud to serve my country. And I’m ready and willing to go do my job. ”

And as resolute Davis is about completing the military duty he’ll soon undertake, he’s just as firm about the personal vow he’ll make, before departing, to all who care about him, including buddies Davis will leave behind in his civilian job as a construction worker at Utility Trailers Manufacturing in Adkins, Va.

Those people also include his father and mother, John and Diane Davis in Chilhowie, and a host of relatives, many of whom also served in the military and shared the pride of that family tradition with Juston Davis.

Juston’s wife and stepdaughter will count down the months of his tour.

“I’ll tell my friends and family that I love them,” he said. “And that I’ll see them in a year. I’m confident that my training and everything will make sure I return home. And I’m looking forward to that day.”

Maybe as much as Melissa Davis, his still-new bride.

When asked where she wants to finally spend the honeymoon she’s yet to have with her husband, Melissa Davis laughed.

“I don’t care, just as long as we’re actually together long enough to leave Bristol,” she said. “I’m not picky. I just want to be somewhere with him. And I love him enough to wait for him as long as I have to wait.” 

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