O. J. Davis Jr.

Lt. Col. O.J. Davis, Jr. USAF

May 22, 1945 - March 21, 2021

As his wife and best friend for over 50 years, I will try to pay tribute to a devoted husband, father and dedicated decorated Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force pilot having defended our country during the Vietnam era and all over Europe.  Not to leave out his outstanding Kenwood Realty where he made many friends helping them with their homes.  He was born in Chicago leaving at an early age with his missionary parents and 2 younger sisters for the Belgium Congo.  He and his sisters were immersed for over 13 years in French speaking school and learned the African language of Lingali. After returning to the United States he enrolled in high school as a junior.  Later, he graduated from Cal Berkley on an ROTC scholarship.  Pilot training in Texas and first assignment as a young LT. to Eglin AFB as part of the 33rd TFW and the Nomads.  That’s where I come in, having moved to Eglin with Southern Airways, we met 2 weeks later at a ski party. The rest is history.  Our parents preceded him flying to Heaven.  He is survive by “HIS” Sandy and son Cory’s family, Courtney, Cooper and Chloe.  Brad’s family Victoria, Frankie & Finley.  His sisters Patti (Darrell) & Christine (Chuck) and numerous nieces and nephews in California & Georgia. Three stories come to mind, his running barefoot thru the jungle in Africa hunting with the locals which did not sit well with his mom, the day he landed in his F-15 at Bitburg AFB Germany when a French reporter arrived to interview him speaking broken English and OJ responded in fluent French.  And of course the day he was shot down in Laos not yet seen his oldest 6 month old Cory and was heroically rescued by Bud & Mike in their maintenance test hop no gas no weapons helicopter.  He wanted no fanfare, he was a simple giant in my world and I will miss him forever. Love You forever, Sandy, Cory and Brad their families and our precious Golden Sunny.