Chaplain (Capt.) David Davis, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

Called to serve

By Chaplain (Capt.) David Davis, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

Among us there are those who chose to serve us all,
who raised their hands to answer their nation's call.
They were willing to fight and if need be die.
They are still prepared to stand and stare death in the eye.
Some served a lifetime while others a few years.
Some claim to be ok while others suffer through silent tears.
The world that they served and fought to protect
feels alien to them; they feel the effect.

So many we have lost to depression and suicide, so many
loved ones have mourned and cried.
If you are one of these valiant who feel all alone.
You still have a purpose; it's too early to go home
You were called to serve both the big and the small.
The young and the old, the short and the tall
Don't let the devil win, he’s not on your side
Heed the call, get up, let's go, show the world your love, your pride.
- D. L. Davis

November 11 was Veterans Day. One thing that veterans of all eras, new and old, understand is the call to serve their country. This calling has caused each of us to raise our right hand to fight on behalf of the American people. This service is important to our identity.  Providing service to one another is a universal concept — everyone strives to belong, strives for purpose and for peace when we lay our heads down at night. 

For many faith groups, service is an important aspect of their beliefs and even for those without a faith tradition. Muslim and Jewish leaders encourage their members to volunteer in order to benefit the community and others of their faith in the name of Allah, and G-d. Pagan followers are also committed to building strong and lasting communities. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Christian churches are taught that, when they are in the service of their fellow beings, they are in the service of God (Mosiah 2:17 and Matthew 25:34-40). In his paper “Buddhism and Volunteerism” Master Hsing Yun states, “volunteers are bodhisattvas (those who are on the path towards Buddhahood) who practice what they are preaching.”

In his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Viktor Frankl, a world-renowned psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, reasoned that if a person has purpose and meaning, he can survive almost anything. As service members we have grown accustomed to being part of a community; when we leave the service, our connection to the community is cut and we can feel ostracized. 

A few months ago, my family and I traveled to a little town in Colorado to clear out my grandfather’s estate. While there I met several different veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Although these service members had served in different eras, they each had a similar story to tell about their leaving the military, and the effect their service still has. Each told me about their calling to serve, and their countless service stories. One thing that stood out between those who challenge their inner demons every day and those who, at times, may struggle, is a sense of purpose. 

Volunteering creates in us purpose and meaning, while forging a bond between the volunteer, the organization and other volunteers, enabling community connections to grow. Studies, conducted in 2017 by Karen Lawrence, Monica Matthieu, and Emma Robertson-Blackmore at the University of Kentucky found that there are social and physical benefits to intentional volunteering. 

For over six months they tested Iraq and Afghanistan veterans through civil engagement and they discovered that volunteering was linked to decreases in both traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, as well as increased perceived self-efficacy, and decreased feelings of depression, isolation, and loneliness. The answer to finding deep and lasting peace is worked out within ourselves when we willingly give up a portion of our time to serve. 

The Fort Bliss and El Paso communities have many people that need your volunteer efforts, whether you have time on a holiday, once a month, or weekly. Visit our veterans in assisted-living homes — these veterans need connections. Listen to their stories and play cards with them. Volunteer at children and teen organizations, kids are our future. Other volunteer opportunities include hospice, food banks, church missions, homeless shelters, prisons, abuse shelters, hospitals, animal therapy, refugee services, park and recreation centers, and museums. One way to find volunteering needs in your area is to visit justserve.org, and https://bliss.armymwr.com/programs/army-volunteer-corps.

I encourage you to strengthen your sense of purpose in and out of uniform. As you strive to build a community, you will find the support you need to triumph over your trials. Let us make the world a better place for those around us, our posterity, and ourselves.