It has been 12 years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and in that time a new generation of American military personnel has been introduced to combat or other high risk situations around the world.
Included in those ranks for the past five years has been Annandale’s David Dezell, who enlisted in the Marines during his junior year of high school through the delayed entry program, and left for boot camp two days after graduating from Annandale High School in 2009.
After four years of active duty, during which Dezell went on two deployments to Africa and the Middle East, he left the Marines at the end of his enlistment period last month to pursue a career in law enforcement, much to the relief of his parents, Craig and Janell.
"Every day was a worry because a lot of the time we didn’t know where he was, but we knew that if something happened he was either in it or going to go to be in it," said Janell. "So for four years my phone was connected to my hip."
As a demonstration of their enduring support for David, the Dezells hung yellow ribbons from the trees in their yard during much of his time in the Marine Corps.
"We’ve always seen the yellow ribbons supporting the troops, and I wanted to support my son in some way. So when he left on his first deployment we decided to put the yellow ribbons up so people would know he was gone," said Janell. "When he came back from his first deployment we had a big banner in the yard. It said, ‘We’re proud of you, David.’ People would go by and honk their horns. So we decided, until he’s home, safe and sound after four years, we’re going to leave those yellow ribbons on the trees."
On Friday, Aug. 30, David and his wife of three years, Kristen, gathered with Craig and Janell at their Willow Drive home and cut each of the yellow ribbons to symbolize the end of David’s military career.
"It’s so nice to have him home. He missed four years of holidays and seasons and things like that. It’s just so nice to have him here and not worry," said Janell. "I can even call him if I want to. He’s going into law enforcement, which is still another worry, but he’s on U.S. soil and he’s doing what he loves to do. And he did love it (in the Marines)."
Working abroad
David’s decision to join the Marines was no surprise to his parents, who recognized at an early age that he felt called to military service.
"We certainly are very proud of him. It’s something he wanted to do since he was a little boy," said Craig.
David said that choosing a military branch was easy.
"I knew I really wanted to do something with law enforcement or have a military career. Nobody in my family had been a Marine, and I wanted to be the first one, so that’s what led me to them, just their reputation," he said.
During his first deployment to Djibouti, a small African country strategically located near the straits that separate the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, David and a squad leader played a primary role in training members of the native security forces.
That was an important task, because with unsettled nations like Somalia bordering Djibouti to the south and Yemen just across the straits, piracy and other terrorist activity, particularly in Yemen, was not uncommon.
"Everything was through an interpreter. Myself and a squad leader were in charge of the entire training for it, so we got a first-hand look," said David. "We got to talk to ambassadors and colonels and everybody involved in that force, so it was a very good experience."
While the Djibouti security forces faced challenges inherent in any underdeveloped nation, David said they were eager to learn what the Americans had to offer.
"They were in a third-world country so they had to make do, but they were very willing," he said. "They were very impressed with us and they wanted to learn everything we knew and cross train."
Following that three-month training stint, which earned David a letter of appreciation from the ambassador of Djibouti, he joined the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, to help form a quick reaction force in the Gulf of Aiden.
During that time, and in his first three years, David was part of a helicopter company, which he called a highlight of his Marine career.
"We spent all our time fast-roping into every condition - at night, during the day, on buildings – just pretty much every situation. So I got to spend my first three years jumping out of helicopters," he said.
His second deployment was similar, with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Green Bay. During that time he also spent time in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
"It’s pretty desolate. Saudi Arabia had a lot of sand storms, so that was tough," he said. "It’s not something you get to see every day. It was a whole new experience."
Highlights, challenges
While there were occasional reports of pirates and illegal border crossings, David said he was never in any immediate danger. There was, however, constant action, and that’s what David said he liked most about life in the military.
"Every day there were helicopters flying everywhere, tanks going by, you’re riding in the back of a humvee or a seven-ton. It’s just not everyday life. Everything is always high-paced and intense," he said.
Now living in St. Cloud and attending St. Cloud State University for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice before pursuing a law enforcement career, David said life is much quieter at the moment.
"It’s definitely taking some adjustment, but that’s why I’m trying to progress in law enforcement so I can get back to something similar to that … something where the action is," he said.
While constant activity, even outside a direct war zone, was a highlight, David said the separation from loved ones and the loss of friends were the most difficult things to deal with during his time with the Marines.
"You make friends, but you lose friends, and that’s probably the hardest part, losing friends and being away for so long," he said. "A lot of friends transfered to different units, but I also had some who didn’t make it back from Afghanistan, which is tough."
David’s prolonged absences were also a challenge for David and Kristen’s marriage.
"It was extremely difficult because I was always away, deployed or out in the field. It was a big strain, but two deployments later, we’re stronger than ever," he said. "I spent time overseas, so I want to do something higher up, something on the home front, where I can still do what I love but stay around my family and loved ones."
The Dezells thanked the community at large, and particularly the United Methodist Church congregation, for their support over the past years. Along with David, the Dezell family includes David’s sisters, Kelly Fein and Amy.
"I’m very proud to be his mom, knowing what he’s gone through," said Janell. "It’s a neat feeling. I’m proud to say my son is a Marine."