More detail on this person: Al Davis, LTC, US Army (Retired) died April 16, 2014 after a long and
valiant struggle with cancer at his home in Gulfport, Florida.
He grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, graduated from Springfield Technical High School and went
on for advanced degrees from University of Massachusetts and Rutgers University.
Upon graduation from UMass he was commissioned as 2nd Lt, Armor and completed flight training with
class 69-32. In Vietnam he flew O-1 Bird Dogs with the 221st RAC and helicopters with the 611th
Trans out of Vinh Long in IV Corps.
HIs continued career in the Army had him in various assignments with Combat Developments at Ft
Rucker, with the 3rd Armored Division's 503rd Aviation Battalion at Fliegerhorst, Hanau, West
Germany. His talents were further utilized when he served as professor at the Navy War College and
later as Professor of Military Science at the University of Rhode Island.
He converted his love of flying to a second career in sailing when he retired and left Army Aviation
in 1990. Al sailed far and wide himself and taught sailing professionally from his home in Florida.
He ran a sailing school and established his highly respected Davis Maritime boat survey business
with the help of his best friend/wife Cindy.
Additionally Al spent these last 12+ years of his life as an environmental activist in an attempt to
save Gulfport's Clam Bayou Estuary winning a lawsuit against the EPA; an important an rare Clean
Water Act victory against the government Goliath. He also advocated for the protection of the
Public's right to access public land and water. His well researched papers and eloquent public
speeches influenced public policy decisions for over a decade.
Al Davis is survived by his wife Cindy, their daughter, Brett Walters, also his daughter Jennifer
and grandson Liam who live in Oregon as well as legions of Army and civilian friends who will never
forget him.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024
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