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Twenty years ago, Johnny Max Davis left behind the peace and tranquility of these mountains for bunk houses and boot camp.

He was just 18 years old on Aug. 22, 1989, when he joined the U.S. Army right out of William Blount High School. The auburn-haired, 5-foot-9-inch young man, like others his age, had pondered for some time what he would do with his life. But it was a tragic event on Oct. 31, 1987, that ultimately decided that for him.

Davis was spending time with friend Lance Eric Russell that Halloween night when he said a case of mistaken identity cost Russell his life. An altercation in Russell's Maryville driveway ended when a complete stranger drove up and shot Russell in the lower abdomen. On the driveway, Davis said he and Russell exchanged "I love yous" before Russell went into shock and medical personnel arrived.

Russell died the following Tuesday at the age of 17 due to massive blood loss from a severed artery.

There is no feeling like the helplessness that comes from watching someone die and not being able to save him.

A lighted path

Davis, now 38, is currently serving in Iraq as the chief ward master of the 14th Combat Support Hospital. He said that horrible night 22 years ago is why he's spent the last 20 years as a medic in the Army saving everyone he possibly can. He is certified as an emergency medical technician, licensed practical nurse and rappel master.

"The hopeless feeling of not knowing what to do when someone is critically injured was something I wanted to overcome," Davis wrote from a confidential location in Iraq. He has been deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) in the war on terrorism.

As the non-commissioned officer in charge of the emergency room in Afghanistan, Davis and his staff experienced true horror. "I will never forget the heroes we lost as we worked in synch as a team to save their lives," he wrote. "They sacrificed themselves like our brothers and sisters have done in previous wars so Americans can have freedom."

The good days, Davis wrote, outweigh the bad. He said he has met wonderful people from all across the globe and has been stationed in Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Alaska and Hawaii. Before attending and graduating from William Blount High School, Davis attended Binfield Elementary School, Sam Houston Elementary, Maryville Middle, and also Maryville High.

A good day, Davis wrote, is when he can leave the office before putting in 14 hours of work. "A bad day is when it goes beyond," he said.

Another 24

"I get up at zero dark thirty and start my day off with a Battle Update Briefing and then make rounds throughout the entire hospital ensuring all soldiers are safe and providing first class medical care to our patients," Davis wrote. "I talk to my soldiers and check their morale. Doing this is not difficult if you give them selfless service -- putting their needs before your own."

That care includes U.S. soldiers, Coalition soldiers, Department of Defense civilians, the local population and the enemy, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Davis and his team serve side by side with members from all over the U.S. On his watch, he has treated amputations, gunshot wounds, Improvised Explosive Device fragmentation wounds, severe burns, and soldiers in rollover accidents.

"The effects of war are ugly, but we are making a difference in the places where we have been ordered to serve," Davis wrote.

Davis serves in a Level Three hospital that resembles what we have in this country. When patients are stable, they are evacuated to Germany at Landstuhl Army Medical Center and then on to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, or Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., for rehabilitation.

"We continue to perform duties in a highly stressful environment where you really cannot get complacent because complacency will get you killed," Davis explained in his e-mail.

Describing himself as an optimist, this dedicated servant said he knows that no matter how tough a day he's had, there are others who have seen worse. "I keep my head up and have faith that tomorrow is a new day," he said.

Watching nightly updates on the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan gives the rest of us here at home an idea that while things are improved in Iraq, they certainly aren't in Afghanistan, and Davis confirmed that. He isn't allowed to talk in detail about what's going on in those two countries, but he is confident Osama bin Laden will be captured in the rugged Afghanistan terrain. That day will come and America will hopefully get some type of closure for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Davis wrote.

Break away

There are social events designed to take these servicemen and women briefly away from the realities of war. Davis has access to a gym, computers, games, etc. He said he just recently signed up with FaceBook and is reaching out to friends he hasn't made contact with in years.

"I missed my 10th and 20th reunion because I was not at home," he wrote.

Davis said he plans to retire in 2011. His family, including two high school-age daughters, Brooke Davis and Jerica Davis, eagerly await that day. Niece Misty Davis and sister Shelli Davis said they wanted to give their uncle and brother the deserved recognition for the sacrifices he has made and the lives he has touched along the way.

Other family members include his wife, Laura Sunshine Davis and stepson, Grant Edwards, who reside at Fort Benning, Ga.; mom and stepdad Ruth Davis George and Donnie George; brothers Steve McFarland and Joe Davis; sister Libbi Davis; aunt Linda Davis; uncles Buddy "Eagle" Davis, Ronnie George and Bobby Lockwood; nieces Stephanie Davis and Brittany Davis; nephews Aaron Carver and Micah Davis; cousins Brian Raines and Trey Raines; and mamaws Lois Radford and Etoline George. His father is the late Max Davis.

Twenty years of service to his country have garnered this master sergeant several accolades along the way. He has earned the Expert Field Medical Badge, Air Assault Badge, Excellent Driver's Badge, and Expert Marksmanship Badge. The decorated soldier has also won the Army Commendation Medal nine times and the Army Achievement Medal six times. He has also earned the Army Good Conduct Medal six times and the National Defence Service Medal twice.

Additionally, Davis was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation, Afghanistan Campaign Medal -- Combat Star, Iraq Campaign Medal -- Combat Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (three), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (three), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and NATO Medal.

He is expected to be in Iraq until June 2010.

It will be a great day, Davis said, when he completes his mission and returns to Maryville. He said there is no place like it anywhere. Home-cooked meals, visits with old friends and family and walking on green grass are high on his priority list when he sees Blount County again.

"It is a place where you can talk with that country twang, and everyone knows what you are saying," he said.

Whenever he decides to retire, Davis isn't planning on any long-term couch time. He already has his sights set on a more challenging future.

"I plan to do something enjoyable and relaxing and try to make a difference in someone's life daily," he wrote from Iraq.

A day hardly goes by that Davis doesn't think of his high school friend Lance Russell, and he remains in touch with Russell's mom, Marilyn Jeffries and brother, Nelson Russell.

"Lance meant everything to me and was loved by many," Davis wrote. "His phenomenal charisma and personality will live through me forever and inspired me to become a medic and save as many lives as possible."