David Messa

1949 - 2025

David T. Messa, age 76, of Gulfport, MS passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Mr. Messa was born in New Orleans, LA., on July 21, 1949 and was a long-time resident of Gulfport. He graduated from East Jefferson High School and attended LSU in Baton Rouge and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches until the time "Uncle Sam" called him to duty.

As he always said "I beat Uncle Sam one day out of a leap year", when he spent 365 days in Vietnam flying AH-1G Cobra Attack Helicopters. He was proud to serve with his brothers of the 361st Pink Panthers, was a life member of and attended the Vietnam Helicopters Pilots Association yearly reunion until he was too sick to attend this year.

After 6 ½ years active duty he retired and spent the rest of his military time with the Army National Guard in New Orleans while also working in the Gulf of Mexico. After flying personnel and equipment to and from oil production structures for Chevron USA, he retired after 32 years in 2009, flying over 20,000 hours.

From there, he never slowed down. He and his wife Karen had a motor home over three years and traveled 49 states. They visited most National Park units and some of the favorites were riding mules and overnight at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, help launch a Hot Air Balloon at the Albuquerque Hot Air Ballon Festival, seeing Yellowstone National Park in the winter and visiting many parks in the west. In 2000, they were scuba diving at 50 feet at midnight in Roatan, Honduras for Y2K. He was also an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves during the good years and the bad.

He and his wife attend Northwood Church at the Gulfport Campus.

Mr. Messa was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Ethel Langhoff Messa and his brother, Paul D. Messa.

Survivors include his loving wife and caretaker, Karen, a daughter, Michelle (Mike) and a son, Scott (Marlene) and 4 beautiful granddaughters; Alyssa, Alexis, Brooke, Ashlyn. Those girls put the sparkle in his eyes.

Mr. Messa's family would like to thank his doctors and nurses across the coast, at Ochsner's Hospital, New Orleans, at Memorial Hospital, Gulfport and at St. Joseph Hospice, Gulfport.

A memorial with be held at Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home, Gulfport, MS., on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 10:00, then the procession will go to the Biloxi National Cemetery for a short service, then to Salute Italian Restaurant, Gulfport, MS., for a Celebration of Life 1:30-4:30.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his name are requested to:

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation or.

Vietnam Helicopters Pilots Association Scholarship Fund.