Tyler Soldier Thankful To Be Home
(Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)
U.S. Army Capt. Larinzol Davis picks up his son, Brooklyn, 2, on Wednesday.
By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer
Army Capt. Larinzol Davis is home from Iraq for 18 days. He'll spend Thanksgiving with his family and probably celebrate an early Christmas before he returns to the desert and the conflict.
At home on Wednesday, surrounded by his wife and two children, Davis is relishing the peace.
"We try not to think about (him going back)," said Tawnya Davis. "Eighteen days goes by so fast, we're just trying to enjoy our time."
Davis is part of a Military Transition Team made up of 11 men who train and conduct operations with their Iraqi counterparts. The nature of his work is classified, and he won't talk about the potential dangers he faces.
"Tawnya knows what I do, but some things we don't talk about," he said.
Staff Writer
Army Capt. Larinzol Davis is home from Iraq for 18 days. He'll spend Thanksgiving with his family and probably celebrate an early Christmas before he returns to the desert and the conflict.
At home on Wednesday, surrounded by his wife and two children, Davis is relishing the peace.
"We try not to think about (him going back)," said Tawnya Davis. "Eighteen days goes by so fast, we're just trying to enjoy our time."
Davis is part of a Military Transition Team made up of 11 men who train and conduct operations with their Iraqi counterparts. The nature of his work is classified, and he won't talk about the potential dangers he faces.
"Tawnya knows what I do, but some things we don't talk about," he said.
(Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)
Tawnya Davis holds hands with her husband, U.S. Army Capt. Larinzol Davis on Wednesday, his first day back from Iraq in seven months. Davis is home in Tyler on an 18-day leave from duty.
"It's better that you don't say," Tawnya added, wrapping an arm around her husband's shoulders.
Davis deployed to Iraq seven months ago, for the first time. It's been hard on both spouses, but the difficult times help spotlight the good things in their lives.
"I'm thankful for health, to be able to see my wife and kids. That's the most important thing," Davis said.
Mrs. Davis is happy her husband is safe and that they can spend time together as a family in the midst of his tour of duty.
"I'm happy he's back. It's a kind of relief, having him here. I've missed him a lot - we've all missed him a lot," she said.
Their daughter, Ariana, said having her dad home after such a long absence was a strange experience.
"It's kinda weird," she said.
Her mother explained that it's been just her, Ariana and their son, Brooklyn, for so long, they all felt a little odd when they picked Davis up from Tyler Pounds Field Tuesday evening.
"When we'd get in the truck, we were used to it being just the three of us. But when he got in the truck with us yesterday, it was like, 'It's so weird to have you here,'" Mrs. Davis laughed.
Mrs. Davis said raising two children alone for seven months is a lot like being a single parent. She's needed support during her husband's time away, she said, and she's found it in a number of ways.
Mrs. Davis, who teaches at Douglas Elementary School, said her co-workers have been perceptive to her needs.
"My co-workers are very supportive," she said. "One night, a couple of my co-workers took me out to dinner. They talk to me; they give a lot of positive support."
The members of the Davis' home church, Broadway Church of Christ, have also lent a hand, when needed. Most importantly, the church has given much-welcomed spiritual support to the couple.
"It just makes you feel good to know that people are concerned about how you're doing," Mrs. Davis said.
Faith helps both of them make it through the hardships of war and separation, they said.
"If I didn't have the Lord - I say this all the time - I wouldn't be able to make it," Mrs. Davis said. "God keeps me strong while he's away."
"Faith is a lot because it helps you know somebody's looking out for you," added the captain. "There's so much bad out there, it's nice to know God's looking out for you."
Davis didn't say much about the war - its progress or its ugliness. Instead, he smiled at his wife and children and looked toward his homecoming, only four months away.
"We're thankful that this is almost over. The tour's almost over."
Davis deployed to Iraq seven months ago, for the first time. It's been hard on both spouses, but the difficult times help spotlight the good things in their lives.
"I'm thankful for health, to be able to see my wife and kids. That's the most important thing," Davis said.
Mrs. Davis is happy her husband is safe and that they can spend time together as a family in the midst of his tour of duty.
"I'm happy he's back. It's a kind of relief, having him here. I've missed him a lot - we've all missed him a lot," she said.
Their daughter, Ariana, said having her dad home after such a long absence was a strange experience.
"It's kinda weird," she said.
Her mother explained that it's been just her, Ariana and their son, Brooklyn, for so long, they all felt a little odd when they picked Davis up from Tyler Pounds Field Tuesday evening.
"When we'd get in the truck, we were used to it being just the three of us. But when he got in the truck with us yesterday, it was like, 'It's so weird to have you here,'" Mrs. Davis laughed.
Mrs. Davis said raising two children alone for seven months is a lot like being a single parent. She's needed support during her husband's time away, she said, and she's found it in a number of ways.
Mrs. Davis, who teaches at Douglas Elementary School, said her co-workers have been perceptive to her needs.
"My co-workers are very supportive," she said. "One night, a couple of my co-workers took me out to dinner. They talk to me; they give a lot of positive support."
The members of the Davis' home church, Broadway Church of Christ, have also lent a hand, when needed. Most importantly, the church has given much-welcomed spiritual support to the couple.
"It just makes you feel good to know that people are concerned about how you're doing," Mrs. Davis said.
Faith helps both of them make it through the hardships of war and separation, they said.
"If I didn't have the Lord - I say this all the time - I wouldn't be able to make it," Mrs. Davis said. "God keeps me strong while he's away."
"Faith is a lot because it helps you know somebody's looking out for you," added the captain. "There's so much bad out there, it's nice to know God's looking out for you."
Davis didn't say much about the war - its progress or its ugliness. Instead, he smiled at his wife and children and looked toward his homecoming, only four months away.
"We're thankful that this is almost over. The tour's almost over."
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