Returning home

By Ash Brownd

Alumnus brings back flag after fighting in Afghanistan

Most Americans were busy celebrating the independence of our nation with grills and fireworks on July 4 of this year. Capt. Christopher Davis, on the other hand, was in Afghanistan taking part in a night sortie, or defensive attack. Davis, a Liberty University graduate, had with him that night a flag from his alma mater, which he formally presented to the School of Aeronautics (SOA) upon his return to the U.S.

Davis said he wanted to be a pilot from a young age. The United States Air Force (USAF) seemed the most logical way to make that dream a reality.

“I wanted to be a pilot, and I was coming from a family that did not have a lot of money,” Davis said. “I was trying to find a way to get (that dream) funded.”

His father encouraged him to attend college because becoming an officer in the USAF required a college degree. Liberty’s aviation program attracted his attention, leading him to attend the university.

Retired Brig. Gen. Dave Young, who now serves as the dean of the SOA, said Davis was an engaging student.

“From the moment Chris entered the SOA, he was a student you couldn’t help but notice,” Young said. “As one of my students, I was impressed with his dedication and desire to be the best pilot he could be.”

Davis said he enjoyed Liberty and the challenge it provided. It also helped him grow in his faith.

“Liberty prepared me to lean on Christ through my daily walk and to devote my desire to do well to him,” Davis said. “It showed me that … we all need to make sure we are working on our relationship with Christ to better serve others.”

It was in the SOA that Davis met Jackie Romine, who became his wife three years later. They graduated together in the spring of 2009 and now have three
young children.

Davis is currently stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California. He has served across the Pacific and Europe, as well as being deployed five times to
undisclosed locations.

“I like the Air Force and the structure within,” Davis said. “Overall, I have had a great experience with the military and love my current family, the 9th Air
Refueling Squadron.”

He is currently assigned to the position of mission controller for the squadron. He handles the scheduling and tracking of multiple local and worldwide missions, usually five to 10 a week, and also helps manage the schedules of approximately 200 people.

According to Davis, he took a Liberty flag with him on his last deployment because he knew he would be deployed for July 4.

Davis brought the flag with him when he returned to the East Coast for his brother’s wedding. The trip gave him a chance to formally present the flag to Liberty.
“I wanted to honor the school that had done so much for me and some of the individuals who mean so much to me,” Davis said.

The flag held even more significance for Young because of his military career.

“The flag that Chris presented to us stands for all that is great about America,” Young said. “Knowing that this particular flag flew on a USAF combat mission in defense of all (that) we as Americans believe (in) makes it even more significant.”

Young said he appreciates the contribution Liberty has been able to make to the lives of students entering the armed forces.

“I couldn’t be more proud of all of our graduates who serve in America’s armed forces,” Young said. “To realize that we played a small part in preparing them for their military careers is very humbling and rewarding.”

Davis is currently working on completing his career with the USAF, but he hopes to return to Liberty someday as a professor in the
aviation program.

“(I want to) work with and encourage young people like the leadership at (Liberty) showed me when I showed up,” Davis said. “Even now, I’ve been encouraging young airmen who are getting out of the service to give (Liberty) a look for where to go to college.”

As Davis is still currently serving, he asked that students pray for his testimony within the USAF.

“Many times, it is a silent (witness) that focuses on my actions and my attitude rather than what I say,” Davis said.

He also asked that students pray for protection for all the men and women in the armed forces and for wisdom for their leaders.

BROWND is a copy editor.