Manuel Guerra Davila

Though his life was marked by careers in both the military and as a civilian, he doggedly pursued his first love of ranching in Karnes County. When working in Mexico City for SBC, he would return at every opportunity to tend to his ranch and his many beloved horses. As a young man, he attended and paid his own way to San Antonio College and St. Mary's University, only dropping out when he ran out of funds. He then volunteered for the draft, joining the U.S. Army in 1966. He did two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter gunship pilot and was heavily involved in combat missions, twice being shot down. His last assignment in Vietnam was with the 192nd Assault Helicopter Company; he was later able to reconnect with this good group of men. Among his many decorations, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Medal. Not one to neglect his long-term career goals, he continued his education by working on correspondence courses during his "down time" between missions.

He eventually earned his four-year degree while stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen. When he left the military, he went to work for Southwestern Bell in San Antonio, where he was in management for 24 years. He worked in Austin, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, West Texas, Laredo and Mexico before finally retiring in 2000 to become a full-time rancher.

He left behind: his father, Antonio Davila; his wife, Madelon Davila; his beloved daughters, Cynthia Davila Johnson and Stephanie Davila Rodriguez, and their husbands, Charles Johnson and Ruben Rodriguez; his stepson, Chris Escamilla; his grandchildren, Gabriella Davila Espurvoa, Luke Davila Espurvoa, Trinity Davila Rodriguez and Nathan Davila Rodriguez; his brothers, Alfredo Guerra Davila, and his wife Viola, and Rudy Guerra Davila, and his wife, Sylvia; and his niece and nephews, Vianna Davila, Tony Davila and Rudy Davila, Jr. He was greeted in Heaven by his mother, Claudia Guerra Davila, and his older brother, Antonio Davila, Jr.

A visitation is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 5 at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, with a service at 10:45 a.m. July 6 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.