'Death before dishonor'

Image courtesy: U.S. Marines

In the Perry, Iowa, high school gym that Lance Cpl. Joshua Davis once used as an athletically talented student, a stirring photo was shown to an emotionally devastated audience on Saturday. It was a tattoo that Lance Cpl. Davis proudly displayed on his chest.

"Death before dishonor."

In 19 brief years, the young Marine never came close to dishonoring himself or the American flag. Even though he was captain of the wrestling team and a gifted football player, Davis insisted on serving in the Marines before pursuing any personal success as a civilian. His deeply-held moral obligation to serve our nation in its time of need makes the following paragraph even more difficult to write.

According to the Pentagon, Davis was killed on May 7 in Afghanistan's Helmand province. A powerful report in The Des Moines Register relays an account of the valiant Marine's final moments from 1st Sgt. Brandon Eckardt.

When the enemy opened fire, Davis fought back with a machine gun.

"It would have been simple for Josh to pause" or take cover, Eckardt said. "He put others before himself."

Staci Hupp's article said Davis idolized legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre and NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. While I was annoyed by the level of media coverage Favre's latest retirement saga received in contrast to personal stories of our troops, that blame rests on journalists, not Favre himself. Stewart has visited Dover Air Force Base and repeatedly voiced his support for our military. I hope Davis' story is somehow relayed to both of these sports stars, because I believe they'd respect Davis just as highly as the Marine respected them.

Lance Cpl. Joshua Davis, who leaves behind his parents, brother, and two sisters, never had the chance to start a family of his own. But as his pastor reminds us, the fellow Americans he died for now have a chance to come together as a family in his honor.

"Josh left us way too soon, and even though he left us a hero, we freely admit we have a hard time understanding why," [Pastor Deb] Parkison said. "Just as Josh proudly put on his uniform and went into battle, so we who remain without him must put on the armor of God."