Page 3 - November 2018
P. 3

Senior in Action: Tony DavisTony Davis
        Senior in Action:
        Senior in Action:
        Senior in Action: Tony Davis
        Senior in Action: Tony DavisTony Davis

                                             After seven years of warehousing, I
         As told to Marilee Marrero Stefenhagen by
       Tony Davis                            passed the Federal Postal Exam and
              I was born in 1967 and raised in a  worked 8 years for the U.S. Postal
      small town in Virginia called Louisa.  As a  Service.  In 2015, I was medically
                                             retired from the Postal Service due
      sports lover, I played basketball, football  to my military service disabilities
      and baseball, and received numerous
      awards for outstanding play and dedication  and muscular dystrophy.
                                                  Rachel wanted to move to
      as an athlete.  In fact, the Little League
      baseball team for which I played second  California to be closer to her family.
                                             We settled in Norwalk and I decided
      base and pitcher won the Virginia State  to be the first in my family to attend
      Championship in 1979.  My older brother
      Carlton played the same sports, and Dad  college. I completed my Associate’s
                                             Degree at Cerritos College in
      coached our baseball team.  My parents
      never missed a game.After graduating from  Summer 2018.  I maintained a GPA
      High School in 1986, I enlisted in the U.S.
      Army at the age of eighteen.
           Following basic training at Fort Dix, NJ,
      I was stationed at Fort Gordon in Georgia
      and trained as an Electric Repairman.  At
      the next assignment at Fort Jackson, South
      Carolina, I received training for my new
      job as Personnel Records Specialist to
      ensure that personnel information was
      accurate in the military ’s records.
          During “Police Call” we were assigned to
      pick up litter on base.  South Carolina
      weather is HOT, and the guys who smoked
      were given a break, while the non-smokers
      kept working.  I didn’t smoke at the time,
      but my buddy said, “Smoke ’em if you got
      ‘em.” I would bum cigarettes from the
      smokers so I could take a break too.
           My first duty assignment was in
      Schweinfurt, Germany.  From 1987 to 1989 I
      worked in the Regional Processing Center.
      After Germany, I was transferred to Fort   Tony Davis
      Lewis, Washington in 1990.  In 1991, I
      became a Patient Administration Specialist
      in Seoul, Korea. I worked with         of 3.070 while completing the
                                             Medical Assistant program and
      administration at 121 General Hospital to  made the Dean’s List in Spring 2017.
      register patients and assign rooms.  In 1993-
      94, I was in Honduras at the Soto Cano Air       The military teaches you to stay
                                             on course and complete the mission.
      Base Military Hospital where I was tasked
      with arranging transport of injured or  I’m currently taking classes needed
                                             to transfer to CSU Long Beach next
      deceased personnel back to the U.S.  My ETS
      (Estimated Time of Separation) occurred  year with a major in Healthcare
      March 1996 at Madigan Army Medical     Administration.  My goal is to
                                             become part of the Veteran’s
      Center in Lakewood, Washington.
           After leaving the military, I became  Administration (VA) Hospital in
                                             Long Beach, helping that facility
      employed at Multicare Medical Group in  become a leader in providing the
      Tacoma, Washington.  I also met Rachel in
      1996, and socialized with Rachel and her  greatest health care in the nation.
                                                  I perform work-study hours at the
      two sons but it took me seven years to
      propose.  Rachel and I married in 2013 and  VA Hospital in Long Beach.  I enjoy
                                             giving back to the community by
      she keeps us both in shape by dragging me  working with fellow veterans,
      to walk at the mall while she shops.
           In 2000, I hired on with Mission Foods  saying, “Thanks for your service.”
      Distribution and was eventually promoted     Tony, thank you for ‘your’ service!
      to Warehouse Supervisor.  I was        from the staff at Not Born Yesterday!,
      responsible for the daily operations and  Congratulations on your accomplish-
      shipment of products along the West Coast.  ments!  Role Model for older adults.
      November 2018                                                                                                                                      3
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