Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

Wesley Knight 0:00
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Music 0:35
Come on, tell

Music 0:42
me what's going on. Great

Dave Washington 0:49
day, Las Vegas, great day. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. Dave Washington, your host. I have my daughter April, who is in studio today. They will have a little discussion. And after her, we will have brother Randy Davis, who is a veteran. We'll talk to him a little bit later. Once again. Hello, Las Vegas, considering this is the first show of the new year, 2026 I want to acknowledge some birthdays, and I got a whole slew of them. I'm going to start off with Cynthia Garner Keisha Rogers, Judge Angel. Vicki Richardson, you know, Vicki has the art gallery out on gallon rope. She's always has some wonderful artists on display there in the gallery. Iris Moore, Jeff Howard, who used to live he was electrician. He moved back to Detroit. Why at cold weather? Jeff, I have no idea. Poonam Mather, she is a dear friend of our ancestor. Now Miss Elaine Wynn. They were really, really close friends, and she also did some work for Elaine. And Elaine was such a great person, I just take this opportunity to say that she is sorely, sorely missed. So Pune, we know how you feel, sister, friend and wishing you the best on your birthday in January. Jonathan armagon, our son in law's brother down in Cape Town, South Africa, Diane Whitaker, former firefighter, was a husband. He's an ancestor. Chuck Whitaker, she's a nice lady. Elaine Ozer, her birthday. Shannon sledge birthday this month. And one of my colleagues, former fire chief, now deputy chief with San Diego, San Diego, San Bernardino County, California, that's bird trail Washington and I mentioned his dad in my memoriam, as far as folks who passed away last year. But great is. Bird is a great guy, a dear friend, and he and his family are doing well, and we wish them continued success as he celebrates his birthday this month. John Stevenson, the third Happy Birthday and the super jog me and Marsha, whenever we're doing something, if he's available, we use Ronnie the super jock. Appreciate you, Ronnie. And again, condolences on the loss of your sister most recently. And then finally, BB Thompson, so happy birthday to all those folks, and I'll be remiss. I failed to, I failed to, I failed to mention Chuck. Chuck. Charles Hanks, he was an Army vet. He was on the last show. He and his wife and my daughter is sitting here making faces. Wes and boy, if I don't mention our youngest daughter, Amber, whose birthday is in January, also my brother's birthday is in January. Oh my goodness, I was gonna miss some key folks in the family. So got that done. Amber. Happy birthday as well as to my brother, Leon, buddy. We call him coffee. Got a lot of different nicknames, but Happy Birthday to all those folks. And once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. As I mentioned earlier, I have my daughter April in studio, and April tell us a little bit about what's going on with you, particularly with your program, as well as with the firefighters have done for you your program, as well as four o'clock camp.

April Washington 3:51
First of all, I'd like to thank you for inviting me again the look back, cause has done some great things this month. For, for well throughout the year, but for for for Christmas, I every year, I partner with the burn Foundation, where they take the donation of toys, they fill the truck up at the Walmart. It's called fill the truck, you know, where they fill the engines with toys, and they distribute them to different nonprofits around the city. And I, for the past 20 years, I've been partnering with them for with Clark County, you know, getting toys for the kids that were on my caseload. But now I work in the visitation center where I this year, we decided to give the children each a toy when they, you know, after the visit is complete with their families, and then with, look back, cause I blessed quite a few families with with toys, and I'm going to see my friend Dina Mitchell, who owns the power soul cafe, to purchase some gift cards for different people that have the gluten allergies or just eat gluten free. So we have some families that struggle with with with the food insecurity. So I want to bless her business. With purchasing gift cards.

Dave Washington 5:01
So you say, with look back. Cause, how many, any idea of how many you gave out to people in the community? It was about

April Washington 5:11
200 200 toys for the look back. Cause, to different, different families around the valley. So you know, with people, you know that we have some people that you know unfortunately were laid off or terminated from their positions that couldn't afford or or to purchase toys, or families that there's a disabled person in the house where they can't afford to work. So I try to target those areas where there's a disability, there's a lack of a of funds due to not working or illness or something like that. Those are the families that we try to, try to target.

Dave Washington 5:47
Now, as far as the county, you say this is, you got those toys from what's, what's the name of the firefighter group that the burn Foundation? The burn Foundation, yes, yes. Nate pahachik used to run that organization, yes, yes.

April Washington 5:59
Keith Armington. Keith Armington, Cedric Williams. They're usually, there's a bunch of other ones, but the ones I know that I've dealt with for the past few years has been Nate, Cedric and Keith,

Dave Washington 6:10
yeah, I remember Nate. In fact, I got to get him on the show sometime. Nate got seriously injured one time, and wow, he's been blessing. We talked the other day, and he talked about how blessed he was to actually be able to come back to be a firefighter, ultimately a captain, and did a great job for our department, and that work that he's doing with the Byrne Foundation, particularly as it relates to just generally helping people in the end with the toy drive each year. I think it's something that's much needed for, as you mentioned, the those families who are, you know, without so we appreciate you, Nate, and I'll get you on the show sometime. So what's the plan for the upcoming year with respect to particularly look back, cause we

April Washington 6:50
know my my goal has been to save children that have been left in the backseat of vehicles because people don't understand. I push that year round. You know, most people talk about it in the summertime. But I push it year round because kids pass away or seriously injured just by being left in a car if somebody runs in the grocery store. You know, people don't understand. And there was one time I made a mistake of leaving my daughter in the car at the turtle stop. I ran in and I forgot to put my, my little CR X, I forgot to put my emergency brake on. The car went rolling, and she, you know, she jumped out of it, but, you know, and you know, I got the car stopped the car. But people don't understand just something in that split second of going to get some gas or at a park, at a grocery store, anything can happen. A stray bullet can hit a kid. A car can hit a kid. A car can get a kid can get trapped in the car because something's going on with the electrical system in the car. So that happens all year round. They just don't talk about that. You know, the other organizations just just talk about the heat, but it's more to the heat than just leaving kids in the back of the car. It's a lot of reasons. You know, a child could have asthma attack. You know, a parent could get have an asthma attack, or something gets sick in the store, a robbery could happen. Anything. You know, people say you're so negative, well, these are things that really happen. Happen in the world when kids are locked in or left in the car.

Dave Washington 8:13
No, I think that's a that's a great thing that you're doing, and hopefully people will recognize and appreciate and take appropriate action. Because you know talking about is one thing, but making sure that you take the appropriate action, as I if my memory serves me correctly, I think I did hear about at least one or two children this past summer that were left in a vehicle here in Las Vegas. So your work is appreciated. Keep up the good work. So any closing remarks you may have in regards to either what you're doing with the county and or what you doing with the look back calls.

April Washington 8:43
Well, I do have, I do love helping people, but people don't understand that. People in health business do get tired also, because sometimes the phone calls, I get phone calls from the same families every year about toys. Wait a minute. How's it? Five years you don't have toys for your kids? Come on. So we need to stop that. I just want everybody to always look back for the children in the backseat of the car. You know, always, always, because that's got to be, you know, it's bad. You know, people talk about charging the parents. I don't think. I don't. It's not a judgment call for the look back. Cause we just want you to remember. That's why we designed the products for you to remember. Because if you lose a child, if you have a heart that's going to bother you for the rest of your lives. As far as my job, you know, I've been on for 21 years, plus. I love helping people. You know, some people really enjoy their job. You know, if your heart's in it, your heart work is what matters, and that's what I love about job.

Dave Washington 9:39
Well, I trust that a lot of people appreciate your effort. So as the eldest child of me and Marsha Washington, we love you and we appreciate the work that you're doing. And we know we got it in your genes from your from your grandmother, Eugenia Washington, white, my dear was always helping somebody. So once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91 point. Five jazz and more. Had our eldest daughter on and that's April, who's doing a great job with the look back calls. Thanks, April.

Dave Washington 10:14
Once again Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host. I have my second guest, April did a great job, kind of, giving us a rundown on where she is and what occurred with her organization, the look back cause, as relates to the toy contributions that were made by the fire burn Foundation, the and I know that under the leadership some years ago. I don't know that he's still the leader, but Captain Nate PAJAK did just a wonderful job in building that organization, and he always many years later, they're still in existence. So Nate, we're going to get you on the show sometime and know that we appreciate you, young man, for the work that you're doing as it relates to the folks out there who are in need. And every year, there is some need that has to be addressed. And I know those children, you put a smile on their face you and your team. So once again, I want to thank you publicly. Again, this is Veterans Affairs plus, and we have brother Randy. Dave is Hey, brother. Randy, Hey, brother. Dave, Washington, how are you? I am well. I am well. So Randy, tell our listening audience what branch of military did you serve and how long?

Randy Davis 11:22
Well, I actually served in two branches. I started off at the age of 19 in the United States, Marine Corps. And yeah, that's what as a young man, I stayed in the Marine Corps for about seven years, and then I decided I'm a New York resident. I decided to go into the army, National Guard, the rest of my service.

Dave Washington 11:44
Okay, so how long you in the guard?

Randy Davis 11:46
Just about 13 to 14 years, to be honest, because I served in Marine Corps about seven.

Dave Washington 11:51
Oh, so you did basically 2021, years, and made your move. Yes. Okay, absolutely. So what was your MOS in both starting with the

Randy Davis 12:01
Marine Corps. I was what's known as an old 311 which is a basic rifleman, or the common turn, a term, a grunt.

Dave Washington 12:09
So you was out there in the bush?

Randy Davis 12:11
Yes, I was, I was out there in the bush. Okay,

Dave Washington 12:15
seven years of that. Okay. So what did you do when you were in the army, reserve or national

Randy Davis 12:20
once I joined the Yeah, once I joined the Army, National Guard. You go in as a basic I actually went into an artillery battery. That's what it was. I went into an artillery but an artillery battalion. It was the second 104 out of New York. So you enter as a the the MOS series. There are all 13 series. So I came in as a 13 Bravo, which is basically an ammunition humper, and I elevated myself to a 13 Foxtrot, which is a forward observer. And I finally retired as a 13 whiskey, which is a weather station chief.

Dave Washington 12:59
So explain a little bit about that. And you know, one thing I'll be asking you later on is, what do you do to prepare you in terms of moving into civilian life? But you say you are weather Yeah.

Randy Davis 13:09
Weather station chief, yes. The United States Army, unlike some of our enemies, they believe in more or less a one shot, one kill concept. So in realizing, as you shoot artillery projectiles high into the air, the weather has an effect on it, be it the wind, the rain, whatever. Okay, so that that's why they created a weather section. So, yeah, so in that weather section, we would send up weather balloons with radios on them and get back information according to what the atmospheric conditions were. Wow.

Dave Washington 13:48
That's interesting. I was totally unaware of that interesting. You learn something every day, if you just keep your eyes and ears open. Yes, wow, weather. That's interesting. So overall, how do you feel, and what did you do in terms of preparing yourself to return to total civilian life?

Randy Davis 14:07
Well, I gotta say, I really enjoyed military life, you know, I really did, but it prepared me by giving me, well, a sense of purpose, a sense of honor for doing a good job. It taught me hard work pays off. And it just it gave me a different an organizational skills, excellent.

Dave Washington 14:29
You know, who was it I was I went to attended something that I'm trying to remember. Who invited me, but I was invited to this, to this deal where a military guy, and I forget his rank, but he was a high ranking officer. He was at, it wasn't Chase Bank, but it was at a bank. But anyway, he gave an indication of why, and they had a number of it was for Veterans Day. They had a special program out there to acknowledge veterans who worked for that particular company. It was a bank, but I just don't remember which one, but I can tell you this, right? He. Really expressed and conveyed to folks how well, generally speaking, people who have military service backgrounds generally are great employees, because of discipline, willing to learn, et cetera, et cetera. And speaking of that, me and my brother, buddy Leon. His nickname is buddy. We went and visit a friend. We call. His name is George, big George we call. And he had a stroke a few years ago, so we were gonna we went out and visited him. And it just made me think about, he was a Marine too, and actually he went to Vietnam. You know, Vietnam messed up a lot of folks, man, but I made a commitment to try to get by and visit him at least once a month, because he's trying to come back, you know, he's going through all his therapy and all that good stuff, man, so I think it's important to always recognize and appreciate those who, who are out there, particularly on the battlefield, for for for the citizenry, and a lot of times people, yes, I totally agree that appreciation for us, man, for those who actually, and I'm a Vietnam era veteran. I didn't go to Vietnam, but I was in as a draftee from 71 to 73 and actually I was supposed to be a, what was called a missile crewman. Supposed, I think it was fort seal, Texas. I was supposed to go to be but because of a little marijuana, a little cannabis issue, they said, they say, No, they will give you a top secret clearance. And the funny thing is, Randy, when I got out, it was in my jacket, you have received a top secret clearance. So ultimately, yes, what happened was I became with fort. Phil say again. I said,

Randy Davis 16:34
I'm also familiar with Fort Sill, that happens to be the the home of the United States Army, field artillery.

Dave Washington 16:40
Okay, all right, yeah. So anyway, I ultimately went to cook school because they wanted me to be a mechanic. And I told him I had no interest in being a mechanic, not that I was afraid or didn't want to get my hands dirty or anything like that, because I was a natural auto mechanics in high school, and I just that just wasn't a job that interests me. So I went to class a couple days and they said, Something's wrong with you. Man, what do you what do you want to do? I said I used to watch my mother, and I've said this to the listening audience several times before this show, but it's worth mentioning again. I said I used to watch my mother bake cakes. I said, I want to be a baker. They said, We don't have a baking school. They say, We got cook school. They got a chapter home making, I say, I'll take you Okay, so that's, that's how I became a cook. But it was, it was quite an experience to be in the military. I had some trouble, but I did get out with an honorable discharge. So how long now, I think you said you were from New York, and how long in Las Vegas

Randy Davis 17:37
I am. I've been in Las Vegas now about 15 years. Yeah, I first came to Las Vegas in around 2010 I am from New York City, as I mentioned, and I've been here ever since. I've actually fallen in love with the city. I've always been a city boy, but I wanted a little bit less crowded area than New York City was, right? And I have found that in Vegas, although Vegas, over the last few years, is starting to grow pretty much, but I still find it inviting for the type of life that I want to live.

Dave Washington 18:11
Well, one thing about these podcasts, man, even though it's in retrospect now I did in memoriam for a number of people who we lost last year, and I failed to mention Barbara Robinson, Costa, who was a dear friend who encouraged me to serve on the Metropolitan Police along with Mooji head Ramadan to get back on Metro's multicultural committee. But Barbara was a great lady. She also was a report, not a reporter, but she What do you call them? When they she had a column. She was a columnist for The Las Vegas review journal. I think that was the actual newspaper. But we love and appreciate, yeah, we love and appreciate Barbara and her husband, Andreas. So we'll be checking in on that brother, because his wife was such a great lady, such a great lady. But yeah, I love Las Vegas. I've been here since I was three and a half. Family moved here from Louisiana with three boys and had four girls here and there. So there's three of us, 4123, there's five of us still here. No, four of us, me and my oldest brother and two sisters. So yeah, Las Vegas will grow on you, man. And one thing about people ask about, how do you deal with the with the weather? I say, Hey, man, I stay inside. I go out when I have to, but otherwise I'm, I'm in the air conditioning. That's the only way you can survive around here and when and then, plus, we don't. We're more of a dry heat compared to many places that I've that I've gone, correct, yeah, they have that high, high humidity. You walk

Randy Davis 19:38
outside and have that high humidity here, exactly, exactly.

Dave Washington 19:42
So what do you, what are you working somewhere now? And are you just kind of kicking back? What's, what's going on? Well, these days, I

Randy Davis 19:51
just did what you call I really retired. You know, I originally retired from the New York City Metropolitan Transit, sorry. And I came here and I took. Easy for a while, but I'm a guy that is about service, and I believe in helping other people and stuff like that. So I tried my hand at the Clark County School District. I went into their transportation department and became what's known as a bus aide for special needs kids to help the kids too. Yeah, these fed these kids with needs of all different types to and from schools. You know, relieve them from their parent, take them to the teacher and vice versa, bring them from the teacher and back to the parent and be able to handle their disabilities in between. I found that rewarding, to be honest, brother Washington, so I said I was going to try it for one year. Seven years later, I was still there up until this

Dave Washington 20:39
year, wow. Well, I can tell you, I am. We are grateful for your service, Randy, and I trust that the parents of those special needs children were pleased with your work as well, because, you know, everybody don't have the knack to deal with certain things in certain ways of life for others. So I trust that they feel very blessed to have had you to function in that particular capacity for the school district.

Randy Davis 21:04
So I feel blessed to have served in that capacity, to be honest, absolutely.

Dave Washington 21:08
Well, great work, brother. So continue to do the good stuff. So now you just kind of kicking back for the moment, until you decide if you want to do something else, I imagine.

Randy Davis 21:17
Yeah, right now I'm just taking it easy. I mean, I belong to American Legion. I do my motorcycle riding. I've got some friends that we do some riding around. And it just, it's basically spending more time with the family.

Dave Washington 21:30
Now, Whoa, did I hear you say motorcycle? Yes, sir. So how long have you been riding?

Randy Davis 21:36
Oh, my goodness, here we go, over 20 years. Put it like that, okay? 20 years I've been

Dave Washington 21:41
back, okay. And you know, one of my deceased friends now, he decided to get a motorcycle after he had retired from the fire from the fire service. I'm like, man, what are you doing? Yeah, that was a good brother. William Spike Jones, yeah, just passed away year and a half. Two years ago. He was coaching me, as I, you know, was making my journey through this cancer issue myself, but Yeah, appreciate that, brother. In fact, I'm glad you mentioned that, because it gives me an opportunity to say that I believe it's April eight and nine. We will have a golf event in his name, along with retired and also an ancestor, Herschel claydy. We will have an annual golf event where we raise money for the Carl Holmes executive development institute, an institute that I've ran for the last 10 years. And I know you've, you've seen and met gene at the post he's a member of the American Legion Post team. He will be taking over as president, so I'm pleased with that. But yeah, man, that's, that's, that's good. So, you know, it's just for someone. And I'm glad you mentioned over 20 years. Man, but I've seen guys, they decide, in a, what do you call a midlife crisis, or whatever they call that stuff, where they decide they want to decide to ride a motorcycle. What are you talking about? Ride a motorcycle? Man, that is a that's a different animal, and you got to be keen and know your way out there on the roadway, if you will.

Randy Davis 22:59
Well, for me, it's part of the part that keeps me mentally shocked, sure, because, as you say, you do, you don't. You do have to stay focused. You're not out there just driving for you. You're driving for everyone else, plus you're looking at what the road conditions are, etc.

Dave Washington 23:13
Absolutely, I can tell you, I can tell you that, you know, I drive a van for Frank Hawkins. And one of the things that people, including my wife, Marsha, why are you doing it? You know why I'm doing it? Because I enjoy it and it helps me to stay focused. Because when you're out there in that strip corridor, you better have your head on the swivel, cause cab drivers, man, them folks, will run over you trying to get to their next customer. So you got to stay alert. And that's, that's the main, one of the main reasons. Plus, I get to meet people from all over the world, and I just enjoy your one time, my wife told me you and you and your boss, Betsy, Fred, well, y'all, y'all talk to a rock. I just have to laugh. Yeah, I'm just a people's type person. I've been that way all my life.

Randy Davis 23:54
Yes, I understand that, me too. And see that also lends to your question is, how did the military prepare you for civilian life. I'm used to that so called, keep your head on a swivel attitude and and that just fits very well for me, and it helps me maintain my psyche. To be honest, I enjoy staying alert, being alert, and just looking out for me as well as others.

Dave Washington 24:17
That's right, yeah, man, it's it's something, but it gives me great appreciation for life. And again, thank God that I'm able to be out there, you know, and God willing, and the creek don't rise, I'll be having my 75th birthday gathering. It's going to be something that I will use to raise some money for several nonprofits within our community. So you and your good wife will you? Hey, you and your good wife will be invited, brother. So it's a matter of you choose

Randy Davis 24:44
to come, and we will be there. We will definitely be there. Yeah, and

Dave Washington 24:47
it's always nice to see you over at the posting, I will say that Jeff does a he's doing a great job, man, in fact. And also Jim Yeager, I know Jim. Yeah, Jimmy. Jim did a. Lot of work in terms of donations. I know a bunch of those TVs around the place, and it really looks great. Man, they did. And also, I must mention the women's auxiliary, they are doing a wonderful job. Man, they always got a

Randy Davis 25:11
fantastic job over there. You know, everybody's working so hard. You know, even me. I just came on board not too long ago, but we're putting in that work, because, you know, it's all about taking care of the veterans at heart, but also serving the community Absolutely.

Dave Washington 25:28
Once again, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington. I have brother Randy, Dave as he's he's a veteran from New York. We've been in our city for quite some time. Any any closing remarks, Randy, ah,

Randy Davis 25:42
not really. It's just that it's been a pleasure to be on your show to talk about the things that we've been talking about, and I'm glad that I'm still able to do the things that I want to do, which is basically just serving people and and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have done that through the Clark County School District, through the American Legion Post, and just to continue on with the grace of God, to be

Dave Washington 26:09
healthy, hell yeah, you gotta put God in there. Man, he's been, oh yeah, oh yeah. He has blessed us, man, to still be around here and able to function. Because, you know, there's people that I know that can't function, and man, I thank God every day, man, because it's important to to be out there to serve. And I know that you a service kind of a guy as well, and that's important. I think it's Yes, sir, yes, sir. You know that human condition and that humanity thing, that is something that I'm going to continue to preach about, that we've lost a lot of that, and that's why there's so much madness going on around our world. And once we think about how blessed we all are to be in on this earth at this time when there's so much turbulence, but yet, let's do what we can do to make it a better place to live. And that's

Randy Davis 26:57
what we got to do that's very well put. Just do, do what we can do,

Dave Washington 27:01
absolutely, if we do that, we'll be fine. I'm checking out. We're seeing here. I know he's looking like he's getting ready to give me that signal. He says, wrap it up. So once again, Randy, thank you so much for coming on the show, and I'll let you know there. Thank you. All right, take care and tell the wife, I said, Washington. All right, tell the wife. I said, Hello. Appreciate it. Thank you, sir. All right now Veterans Affairs, plus signing off you.

Music 27:40
All the smoke in the air till the hate when they stare, all the pain that we bet on you.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai