William Aldrich Davis

Colonel William Aldrich Davis, U.S. Army, Retired, of San Antonio, TX, died on Thursday, April 1, 2004 at the age of 91. He was born in Brentwood, TN, April 21, 1912 to Thomas W. Davis and Margaret Carpenter Davis. He attended Old Duncan School, Vanderbilt University in Nashville class of 1935 and US Military Academy, West Point, graduating in 1936 and commissioned in the Field Artillery. He had tours at Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Sotensenburg Philippines, before transferring to the Ordnance Dept. In World War II, he went overseas with the 12th Army Air Corps., to North Africa and Italy as Assistant Ordnance Officer, later became the Ord Officer of the 12th. Returned to the States in 1945 for duty in the Pentagon where he initiated a program that resulted in a new family of bombs and fuses for the new high speed aircraft that the Germans introduced at the end of the war. Later, he entered Harvard Business School, graduating in 1949 with an MBA Degree. He married Mrs. Elizabeth Meyers Dillen of Washington, D.C. in 1947. The marriage later ended in divorce. There were no children. Later, he was assigned to Korea, where he commanded the 59th Ord Group during the Korean War. After the war ended, and a tour in Japan, he returned to the States, where he commanded Rochester Ord. District, Rochester, NY. In 1960, he married Jean Elizabeth Frizzell of Palestine, TX. She preceded him in death in 1983. There were no children. His last assignment was to 7th Army Corps in Stuttgart, Germany. When he completed his overseas tour, he returned to the States in 1964, retiring at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Awards received were the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Commendation and Korean Ulche Medals and French Criox de Guerre. In retirement he taught school for 15 years at San Antonio College and Central Catholic High School. He was a member of the Retired Officers Assn., Harvard Club of San Antonio, the Laurel Heights United Methodist Church and West Point Society of San Antonio, TX. His hobbies were golf, football, baseball and reading, especially history. Survivors are a number of cousins, nephews and nieces. Graveside Services will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on Tuesday at 1:45 P.M., April 6, 2004. In lieu of flowers, one may make a donation to the Laurel Heights United Methodist Church, 227 W. Woodlawn, San Antonio, TX 78212, to the Humane Animal Defense League Shelter at 11300 Nacogdoches, San Antonio, 78217 or the Humane Society of Bexar County, 4804 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, 78229. Memorial Funeral Home.