France Pershing Davis, Sr.

Sergeant Davis was born in Lytle, Texas in 1918 and spent 26½ years in the service of his country in the Texas National Guard, the US Navy, and the US Army. He enlisted in the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and was in the Submarine Force in the Pacific Theatre during WW II, where he earned the Silver Dolphins and Submarine Combat Pin. He served on both the USS Snook and the USS Sawfish and was a longtime member of the US Submarine Veterans of WW II. After the war, and following a second stint in the US Merchant Marine, he enlisted in the army, serving two tours in West Germany, two tours in Korea, and two tours in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Sgt. Davis retired from the Army at Fort Eustis, Virginia and settled down in Hampton, Virginia for 34 years with his wife Jeanne. In 2002 they moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to be near his daughter. Since 2007 he has resided at the Heritage at Gaines Ranch in Austin, Texas.

Sgt. Davis was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Jeanne L. Davis, in 2007.

Survivors include sons France Davis Jr. and wife Alice, of Austin, Texas and Michael S. Davis of Coral Springs, Florida; and daughters Zoe, and Cindy and husband Peter, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Sgt. Davis has six grandchildren.

Burial, with full Military Honors, will be held at 9:00 a.m., Friday, January 28, 2011 at Arlington National Cemetery.