Henry S. David Jr. SGTMAJ, USMC

He was known by many names, but to me, he was simply Dad-a tenacious leatherneck whose grit could humble even Chesty Puller himself. Though he may not have fought at Belleau Wood, he earned his stripes in the mud and came out a leader. Among the few, he instilled in me a deep sense of pride and morality that have given me the courage to stand with truth against all adversity. I may be a fraction of the man, but I was blessed to have him, and proud to say that I'll always carry a piece of him with me wherever I go. I can only hope that he's watching over me and the girls with love and care... I'm still fighting em pops, all them damn indians! Marjorie needs you, watch over her ya? Over us.

Well it's be over a year and golf just is not as fun or as funny with out you, hopefully there is a beverage cart in heaven.....we miss ya SgtMaj
Tim

SgtM was a great friend and golf buddy. It was always a blast to spend time with him & Albert, either on the golf coarse or in coach's corner. He loved his many cadets[ of which three were mine ] and he taught them about honor and country. His unending energy, his sly grin, and that sense of humor will be remembered by Pam & I forever. He is with his beloved Ruthie and Pops....and may God Bless them all. Tim Connacher

Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepard I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he guideth me beside the still waters. He restore th my sole. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Thou prepareth the table before Me. Thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me in the presence of mine enemies. Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil for thou art with me. And I shall remain in the House of the the Lord forever. Amen

RIP

As a fellow instructor, I looked up to you.
As a doc, I respected you.
As a friend, I laughed with you.

So long buddy. Till we meet again on God's green fairways!
I love you Brother. Semper Fi!

Chief

Sgt Major had a profound impact on my children. My son Matt was heading down a troubled road when I decided he needed some discipline in his life. I enrolled him into ROTC and that's when he met a man that would shape his life as an adult. Sgt Major took that troubled teen and instilled within him the Corp values of the Marines. He became a changed man and became a Marine himself and went to Iraq and served his country in the infantry. He is still serving today as an E-5 in the Army mechanized infantry. He is also influenced 3 of my other children as well. They have all become successful and independent due to his influence. My wife and I are both ICU Nurses and had the privilege of taking care of "Pops" and have had the honor of visiting his home on several occasions. He and Ruthie were always very hospitable. He had such a strong impact on everyone he met. Our family will miss him. Our condolences and are prayers to the David family. He was and is a great Man and our Community is a sadder place without him, Ruthie and Pops.

My condolences to Michael, Michelle and Maggie. Losing both parents a year apart is very difficult for all of you. May all the good memories you have keep you strong. I knew Toar from church, the old neighborhood in Hyde Park along with Big Toar and Ethel. Judy, Ruthie and I were good friends in High School. They fell for one another from the first time they met and they stayed together from that time on. Toar found a home in the Corp and made a good decision making it his career. achieving the rank of SGT MAJ. He definitely found his nitch! I was very impressed to read about his Post-Retirement Career as a ROTC Recruiter at a High School in Riverside. He definitely opened opportunities those kids
they never would have had. I'm sure growing up in West Side added to his dedication to help those kids out of their situations. He and Ruthie's legacies are left in you their children and Grandchildren. I'm sure all of you will make them proud. Toar you are with Ruthie now. Rest in Peace.
Your old friend,
Carol Morgan Brogan

Sgt. Major, Honest, loud, rough around the edges and always straight to the point. You always knew where you stood with Sgt Major and that's what made him a respected man and how I will remember him. He took pride in everything he did, loved his family and students and I'm thankful to have known him and his entire family.

Craig (Stony) Ludvickson (Neighbor)

Truly one of the best human beings to walk the face of this earth. I was honored to call him my colleague and friend. When I retired he gave me a medal which I treasure for all the times we worked together. Compassionate, funny and yet a true leader who loved and served his country in one of our darkest periods. An honorable man in the true sense of the word, he will be missed but carried in the hearts of all who knew him. Rest in peace, Sgt. Major.

Sgt Major will forever hold a place in so many peoples' hearts. He truly cared for us as students and treated us with utmost respect and expected nothing less but our best to whatever we did. I spent 4 years under this mans' wing and I wish I could have spent more, he was one of very few individuals who taught me to become and molded me into the man I am today. Unfortunately I can't make it but my deepest condolences to everyone.

Sgt. Major what a loving man. The first time I met him was at registration at Ramona High School in 1998 He wore his uniform with great pride and his smile was so contagious. He was such an inspiration to many of the students on campus. He was so loved and respected. Anyone who wasn't fortunate enough to know him missed out on such a beautiful loving gift of a man.
May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him and may the Lord embrace him in his love. My deepest sympathy to his loved ones. Semper Fi Sgt. Major!

My beloved friend. I thank you n your wonderful wife my beloved friend too, for being part of our family. For making my boys grow up into good respectful men. For being my baby girl maggie godfather.. and for being a best friend, pops to us the familia Quintana. Forever you will be in our heart and thoughts.. And never forgotten. We love you, pops.....

Sgt. Major was a wonderful instructor. His humor and genuine care for students made ROTC so enjoyable for me. I had wished I joined sooner. I am so sad to hear of his passing, my sincere condolences to his family.

I will always remember walking around on Ramona High's campus and look up to see SgtMajor David... although I did not know him that well, his smile was very contagious! You will be missed ♡

SgtMajor was an icon on the campus at Ramona. All the students loved and respected him even if they weren't in ROTC. He was such a caring, giving man. He will truly be missed!

We lost one special man .he was a great teacher of the ROTC in riverside . you will be miss but never for gotten

SgtMajor was an inspired role model and father figure to a lot of us. In his own way he showed us he cared of us and called his girl, diamonds. Showed us to have respect and humility. Never did I have a problem that he could not solve. His love for his family, God and country is what kept him going. Always looking out for what was best for me.

My younger sister was in the program for 2 years before he retired and now is in bootcamp and wishes she could have came, sends her condolances as well.

May you now rest with Ruthie in peace SgtMajor. Will always have a special place in my heart.

Love,
Alicia and Alexandra Lamas

Sgt. Major David touched the lives of so many. As a mentor, coach and teacher, he never failed to convey a genuine sense of care for any person seeking guidance, direction and wisdom. Sgt. Major gave his time freely and openly; he truly valued serving others in order to improve the well-being of future generations.

Personally, Sgt. Major fostered my ambition to lead and to serve. The most important lessons he taught were outside of the classroom. Time is the most precious asset any person has and Sgt. Major chose to spend his developing young people with the utmost candor.

We have lost the physical presence of Sgt. Major, but his spirit will live on in the souls he reached. He lived a life well-lived; we should all aspire to do the same. His lasting message is- care for and value others, do that which is right and commit to make a difference.

Honor. Courage. Commitment.

Semper Fi,

Mark Torres

My condolences to Michael, Maggie and Michelle and their family. Sgt. Major was a decent and respectable individual and all around honorable man. He will be missed.

We lost a special person, great friend, great role model, whose service to others will live on forever. Forever in our hearts Sgt. Major David. Won't ever forget you my friend. Thanks.

Outstanding teacher and great role model for the students. Won't ever forget you!