A father, husband, and hero forever lost

By Tanya Davis
Wife of missing UMUC student

My loving husband, Wayne Davis, was on the 106th floor of the World Trade Center when it was attacked.

Tanya Davis faces a new life—without her husband.

He is still listed as missing. He proudly served eight years in the United States Army 82nd Airborne Corps.

He served in over 15 operations and in Desert Storm/Shield for two tours. One could not find a more patriotic and honorable man than Wayne. He is 29 years old. His dream was to retire by 40 and teach History to High School students. On the previous Friday, he expressed to me his fear with the situation in the Middle East. He had told me that it truly worried him.

We have two beautiful children. Gabrielle Hunter Davis who turned 2 only twelve days after the attack, and our son Malachai Roarke Davis, who is 9 months old. The children meant the world to him, even before they were born. Every Saturday was "daddy-daughter day" where he would take Gabrielle out all day, running errands, buying groceries, diapers, and it never failed "…new toys that she NEEDED." After Chai was born it became "daddy-daughter-son day" where he would pack them both up and head out for a day of fun. We were the world to him as he is the world to us. He laughed and played.

Wayne plays in the pool with daughter Gabrielle, 2.

We danced as a family in the living room, he sang, acted goofy, and Wayne always, always put us first. He hated traveling. He would try to avoid it the best he could, but there were times that it was necessary. He would call several times a day for an update on how I was feeling and how the children were doing. He e-mailed me often, even if he was gone for one day. He cooked, he did the grocery shopping, and he did all the laundry. He was my very best friend and a loving, gentle, caring, supportive, and patient man. He gave me strength and I gave him strength.

Wayne works at the computer with son, Chai.

I am active duty military assigned to NSA. I have been in the military for 12 years now and have been undergoing a medical discharge.

In April we finally bought a home (after two years of looking) in Virginia. Apple orchards and six acres for the children to run on surrounded this home. We spent every weekend up there —the children in playpens and we slept on the floor. Our plan was to move first week in October (his 30th birthday). I have put the house up for sale. I cannot afford it. Our intention was to move so that I could focus on our children and my health. We had already hired a full-time nanny to assist me and he said that 'this was time for me prioritize that which was necessary for me.'

I had a rough life and he often told me that it brought him joy to see me have an opportunity to do what I wanted for once, instead of what I had to do. Just the Saturday evening before the attack, we were at the house. The children were sleeping and we went out onto the back porch, with the monitor. He lay down on his back and looked up into the sky at the stars. We sat there. He said to me, "I never imagined being this at peace. I never imagined being this happy and in love." I looked at him and said, "Me too, I never imagined."

Wayne completed his last finals for his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Systems the week before the attack. He had completed his degree online. Before he left for New York, he told me that he would wait until we got paid (four days after the attack) to send in the money to petition for graduation. He told me that it felt very satisfying that he had completed his degree and could now focus on continuing with a Masters program, in History. He completed his undergraduate while working full time, traveling, taking care of me, and completely devoting his life to his children. I am very proud of him. Wayne Davis is my hero, and always will be.

Wayne Davis is a UMUC student, presumed killed in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.