MSG Charles D. Davis

1927 - 2018

MSG Charles D.
Davis
February 12, 1927-
January 10, 2018
Columbus, GA- Charles D. Davis, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit of Columbus, GA died Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at home.
A Celebration of Life will be held 2:00 – 4:00 PM Saturday, January 20, 2018 at McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd, Columbus, GA 31907. Inurnment will be held in the Fall with a chapel service at Arlington National Cemetery.
MSG Davis was born Feb. 12, 1927 in Hazard KY, the son of the late Chester Arthur and Florence Hall Davis. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1945 during WWII serving until 1946 aboard USS Taconic. He was a 1952 graduate of Centre College of Kentucky. He began his Army career in 1955 and started shooting rifle with the 34th Infantry Regiment in 1956. He was assigned to USAMU in 1957. His shooting accomplishments were many over an impressive 21-year association with USAMU. His marksmanship talents crossed several disciplines while competing with the Service Rifle, International Rifle, and Running Target sections. He earned his Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1957, won the Daniel Boone Trophy in 1959, and was the National Service Rifle Champion in 1961. In 1968 he became the only shooter to win both the Wimbledon and Leech Cups in the same year, and in 1971 he again won the Wimbledon Cup.
MSG Davis became "double" distinguished when he earned his International Distinguished Badge in 1973. He was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces CISM Grand Championship teams in 1960 and 1968. While assigned to the Running Target Section he won five National Championships. In 1972, MSG Davis represented the US Olympic Team in Munich, Germany for the 50m running target discipline. He was picked by the Olympic Committee to run the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay
During his shooting career, MSG Davis set numerous National and Interservice records. He won two Gold, three Silver, and four Bronze medals for a total of nine medals won in International competition. MSG Davis exemplified himself as a soldier as well as a shooter by earning the Expert Infantryman Badge and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge while serving in Vietnam. MSG Davis retired from the Army in 1979. After his retirement, he continued his competitive accomplishments setting over 200 national records in Silhouette Pistol and Running Target. Awards and medals received include the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, President's Hundred Tab, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal (seven), American Area Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Norma Lee Francis of Lexington, KY, his brother Robert Davis of Cincinnati, OH, and his half-brother Orey Davis of Hazard, KY. Survivors include his wife, Jacqueline Ann Parney Davis of 62 years of Columbus, GA, daughter Carol Ann Davis Pardue of Aliso Viejo, CA and grandson, Nicolas Christian Thomas of Columbus, GA and his brother James Flint Davis of Manteo, NC.
Those who wish may sign the online guest registry at www.mcmullenfuneralhome.com.