Retired Air Force major graduates in UNLV ceremony

David Kihara

Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004 | 9:05 a.m.

After two wars, six years and numerous delays, former Air Force Maj. Jim Davis finally donned a cap and gown Monday and graduated from UNLV.

It was a long journey for the former Air Force reservist, who was called up to serve twice while enrolled at UNLV's law school. He was first called up for active duty during the war in Kosovo in 1999, a week after he was accepted to the new William S. Boyd School of Law.

While he didn't serve in Kosovo, he took a one-year deferment from the university while in Air Force training and returned in 2000.

Then in 2001, as he was starting his second year at the law school, the events of Sept. 11, 2001, took place. Nine days later, he was called back to active duty and soon found himself flying surveillance missions over Iraq.

"It was just a sense of duty," Davis said on Monday.

Jim Davis was one of about 1,100 UNLV students who graduated on Monday during the 41st commencement ceremony, which took place at the Thomas & Mack Center.

At least 7,500 friends, family members and well-wishers watched the ceremony. About 1,700 degrees were to be awarded this month, a 13 percent increase from the last winter commencement, UNLV President Carol Harter said during the ceremony.

The youngest graduate Monday was 19, the oldest 68, Harter said.

At 44, Davis is older than many of the students graduating in the class of 2004. But he was no less enthusiastic about graduating. He said he will take the Nevada bar exam in February.

"One thing I brought to school from my experience in the Air Force was a need to be ready, to be in that mindset that when you are prepared, you are ready for anything," he said.

The now-retired major said he spent a total of 20 years in the military: eight years on active duty, eight years in the National Guard and four years in the Air Force Reserves.

"I spent 20 years and two days in the military -- not that anyone's counting," he joked.

Davis flew on surveillance missions over Iraq in a Boeing 707 Airborne Warning Control System (AWAC) jet during the war. The crew of 20, based in Turkey, were tasked with "telling pilots where to fire their missiles." .

He said the mission had its tough spots, some of which he never realized until he returned to America. For example, it wasn't until he watched the Michael Moore film "Fahrenheit 9/11" and saw scenes of Iraqis with serious wounds caused by U.S. bombs that he realized what role he played in the current conflict.

"The movie '9/11' showed the carnage, and I realized I have had a play in that carnage," he said. "It will always be there."

The lag time between missions gave Davis free time to study.

"Studying took your mind off of what your family was going through," he said.

Although other UNLV students graduating on Monday didn't face the same challenges as Davis, many were just as proud of their accomplishments.

One senior, Sandra Pierre-Louis, came to the United States from Haiti in 1991, following her parents, who were already living in Las Vegas.

The first to graduate from an American university in her family, Pierre-Louise, a graduate from UNLV's School of Health and Nursing, said she "loves nursing and taking care of people. I am excited and proud of myself."

The university also awarded President's Medals to Carlos Garcia, superintendent of the Clark County School District; Jane Nichols, former University and Community College System of Nevada chancellor; and former UNLV football coach John Robinson.

But the graduation ceremony belonged to the graduating students, evidenced by their cheering and laughing as they took to the stage to receive their diplomas.

When asked what his dream job would be, Davis replied, "I want to work for one of the major league baseball teams coming to Las Vegas."