[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 10, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CAPTAIN THOMAS EDWARDS DAVIS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 10, 2023

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and remember 
the life of service of Captain Thomas Edwards Davis. Born in Arkansas, 
he attended Mississippi College, Tulane University, and Southwestern at 
Memphis, and entered the United States Navy in July of 1945.
  As an Aviation Midshipman, Captain Davis underwent flight training at 
the Naval Air Station, Ottawa, Iowa; Corpus Christi, Texas; Pensacola 
and Jacksonville, Florida; and was designated a Naval Aviator in June 
1949. He served in Fighter Squadron 173 from August 1948 until released 
to inactive duty in January 1950.
  He was recalled to active duty in June 1950 with Reserve Fighter 
Squadron 791 and deployed to Korea on the USS Boxer. He later served 
with the Fleet Gunner Unit at El Centro, California as a gunnery 
instructor from January 1953 to August 1954. He was also a gunnery 
instructor at the Naval Air Station Barin Field, Alabama, from August 
1954 to March 1956.
  Captain Davis attended the Air Launched Missile School at the Naval 
Air Technical Training Center, Jacksonville, FL, after which he served 
with Fighter Squadron 101 at the Naval Air Station Cecil Field and Key 
West, FL, until June 1960.
  He was a student at the United State Naval Postgraduate School from 
August 1960 to August 1962. In September 1962, he was transferred to 
the Office of the Chief of Naval Operation. From September 1964 to 
August 1965, he was attached to the Staff of Commander Naval Air Force, 
United States Atlantic Fleet, as Armament Officer, after which he 
served as Executive Officer and later Commanding Officer of Training 
Squadron 9 at the Naval Air Station, Meridian, Mississippi until 
January 1967.
  He served as the Carrier Air Traffic Control and Strike Operations 
Officer while on the USS Intrepid deployed in the Tonkin Gulf.
  Leaving the Intrepid in August 1968 to become a student at the Naval 
War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Earning his Master of Science 
degree in International Affairs at the George Washington University in 
Washington, D.C.
  He returned to the Staff of Commander Naval Air Force, United State 
Atlantic Fleet in July 1969. Captain Davis reported to CF-1 in June 
1972 as Commanding Officer and served there until transferred to Naval 
Air Maintenance Training Group, NAS Memphis, in August 1975.
  Captain Davis was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious 
Service Medal, four awards of the Air Medal, the Navy Unit 
Commendation, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam Navy 
Distinguished Service Order and the Navy Commendation Medal. He has 
also earned the Korean Service Medal, the China Service Medal, the 
United Nations Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the National 
Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal.
  Our Nation is forever in the debt of Captain Davis and his family for 
his many years of service to our country. He leaves behind a legacy of 
service to others that has inspired future generations. May his memory 
be everlasting,

                          ____________________