Louisiana veteran finds acceptance, adventure in the Navy

HARAHAN, La. (WGNO) — Jeannine Davidson was adored by her parents, but as an adopted child from South Korea, she struggled to be accepted in Montgomery, Louisiana, a small town near Alexandria.

School classmates teased her because they had never seen another Asian. Davidson remembers that even some of her relatives shunned her. But her father, who was a Navy veteran, encouraged her to leave Louisiana and join the military.

“He told me the military is made up of people from all over America- all over the world- so it brings all those personalities and backgrounds together,” said Davidson, “But then it breaks you down and builds you up as a team.”

Her father said that signing up to serve, was “like my ticket out of a small town.”

After a 21-year career in the Navy, Davidson can attest to having that ticket.

She went on missions stretching from Panama to Haiti, and from Brussels to the Arabian Sea. And along the way, there were stops in Turkey, Greece and Bosnia.

It was a global adventure, and as she saw the world, Davidson rose in the ranks. She retired in 2009 as a Yeoman Chief Petty Officer, with glowing accolades from her commanders.

“It gives you a sense of purpose,” Davidson said, “So, if you don’t have any compass to guide you, the military can help with that, as it did for me.”

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