Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jb Jaso | Spc. David Denson, of Hanalei, Hawaii, is a infantryman with Company A, 1st Battalion,...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Sgt. 1st Class J.B. Jaso III
1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
ISTAQLAL, Iraq – Overcoming challenges and defying the odds is nothing new to Spc. David Denson.
The 37-year-old infantryman with Multi-National Division – Baghdad's Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, currently attached to the 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., has spent his life doing what others said that he couldn't do.
Those people said this Oceanside, Calif., native, couldn't surf the Southern Californian waves with the professionals. However, Denson dedicated his young life to surfing. He surfed hard and began his professional surfing career riding for the Hobie, Life's a Beach, Body Glove and Rip Curl surf teams.
"I busted my butt," Denson said, in regards to the effort it took to surf at the professional level. "I wasn't Tom Curren, but I got to where I wanted to be."
Where he wanted to be was in surfing's Mecca: Hawaii.
Denson moved to the island of Kauai in 1991, where he surfed the crystal clear Hawaiian waters and adapted to the culture there.
Just months after moving to Kauai, Denson learned that the perfect tropical Hawaiian weather could quickly change. In September 1992, Hurricane Iniki destroyed his home and took all of his belongings.
The hurricane's destruction was so significant that Denson felt the need to do everything he could to assist his new community.
"It doesn't take much to be a part of a community," Denson said. "My parents taught me to be a good guy and do what is right."
The right thing for him was to temporarily give up surfing to help rebuild homes and volunteer at the local Salvation Army.
During this time, Denson learned the unique and treasured Hawaiian cultures and traditions. He said he learned how native Hawaiians have overcome challenges and the true meaning of aloha.
Assisting him in learning these new traditions and cultures was Hawaiian-native and great-great-great-granddaughter of Kalaimamahu, half-brother to Kamehameha I, Leiliwin Kalei Mahuiki.
Mahuiki and Denson fell in love and married in September 1995.
While they raised their four girls, Denson researched and became an activist for Hawaiian rights. He defended land that was owned by native Hawaiians on Kauai's north shore in 1999, which a prominent businessman attempted to purchase.
"I assisted in researching the issues that the Hawaiians believed in," stated Denson. "I wanted to make my family proud and be a good role model for my kids."
He made his family proud, not only protecting native Hawaiian rights, but also participating in youth sports and anti-drug programs.
In 2001, Denson would be faced with another challenge.
While driving his pregnant wife on Kauai, Denson was involved in a vehicle accident that caused his wife to have a cerebral hemorrhage. Later, his wife passed away – along with their unborn child.
"I was devastated," Denson said after the accident. "I learned how fast life can change and what's important.
"Nobody thought I would be able to raise my kids," the now single father said. Eight years later, those people are impressed how hard he has worked to raise his
four daughters, ages 7 through 12.
The girls have become fluent in their native Hawaiian language. The oldest has received a full scholarship to the Kamehameha schools; and, of course, they all surf.
"They're a lot like their mom," Denson said about his daughters. "They have a lot of aloha for people.
"I didn't think I would come back from Leiliwin's death," Denson said.
In 2006, Denson knew he had to continue his selfless service to those in need.
"Spreading freedom to another country is similar to sticking up for the Hawaiians," Denson said upon joining the Army.
Denson proved those individuals that doubted his ability to complete basic combat training wrong when he graduated and deployed to Iraq.
Denson is currently serving as an infantryman in Iraq's Istaqlal Qada with the "Wolfhounds."
For the last 14-months, he assisted the Iraqi security forces in securing the northern Baghdad region. This additional security has allowed the Government of Iraq to provide much-needed essential services, such a medical aid, education, water and electricity to the residents.
"We're trying to make a difference in people's lives," stated Denson. "We're sharing a little bit of aloha while we connect with the population, letting them know we're here for them."
Sharing a little bit of aloha is nothing new for Denson.
"It does well knowing the local culture, just like when I moved to Hawaii," Denson said upon arriving in Iraq. "It goes a long way learning a little Arabic."
Not only has Denson connected well with the local populace, he has also connected very well with the younger Soldiers in his squad.
"The guys call me 'dad,'" Denson said. "I enjoy working with the young Soldiers and watching them grow."
"He is a person everyone goes to as a mentor," said, Sgt. Nathan Taylor, Denson's squad leader, who is a Greenville, Miss., native. "He is respected, and everyone knows he has a wealth of knowledge because of his previous experiences."
Denson enjoys seeing the younger Soldiers, whom are nearly 20 years younger than him, stepping up from wherever they are from and seeing them achieve their goals and aspirations.
"These young men are working 18 hours a day fighting for freedom while other 18 year-old kids are attending college and drinking," Denson said. "I tell them that they can do whatever they want to do: just want it and stay dedicated."
That same dedication that he tells the young Soldiers in Company A was instilled in Denson as a young child.
"Once Denson is given a task, he doesn't stop until the mission is accomplished," said Taylor. "He always goes above and beyond, accomplishing more than I expect."
As Denson completes his 15-month tour in Iraq, he looks back at the accomplishments that he and his unit have accomplished and looks forward to spending time with his girls.
"I tell my girls that terrorists don't tend to the needs of the people," Denson said. "We did the right thing here, making the time to do the right missions. I'm proud to be a Wolfhound!"
| Date Taken: | 01.25.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.25.2009 20:59 |
| Story ID: | 29241 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 585 |
| Downloads: | 266 |
This work, Denson overcomes odds, challenges to serve in Iraq, by SFC Jb Jaso, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
