Sidney L. Davis, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret), 89, of Elizabethton, passed away on Sunday, November 1, 2015, at Johnson City Medical Center. Brigadier General Davis was preceded in death by his parents, Allen J. Davis and Maude Livesay Davis, of Morristown, Tenn.; his wife, Norva Purvis Davis, of Bethel, N.C.; and sisters, Madge Blackburn and Mary Rawlins.
Brigadier General Davis was a retired veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam, with 32 years of active service. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served aboard the U.S.S. PCS 1421 as a Gunner’s Mate, 2nd Class. He participated in amphibious operations at Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Philippines.
He was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946 and entered the U.S. Air Force Aviation Cadet Program in February 1948. One year later he received his Pilot Wings and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in February 1949. Early in the Korean War, he flew a combat tour from Japanese and South Korean Air Bases.
Brigadier General Davis had several other assignments, including a two-year tour as the Air Liaison Officer with the 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, N.C. He qualified as Jumpmaster and Senior Parachutist.
In 1968, during the Vietnam War, Brigadier General Davis was commander of the 558th Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-4)s at Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam. He had previously flown F-4 missions while on temporary duty in Thailand, in 1966.
After various staff assignments at Tactical Air Command Head Quarters, Langley AFB, VA; Brigadier General Davis was transferred to Mac Dill AFB, FL in 1972, where he assumed command of the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing.
His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, with One Oak Leaf Cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross with One Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Air Medal with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters; and a total of 13 Battle Stars to Theater Ribbons from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He was Command Pilot with 6,300 Flying Hours and flew 227 Combat Missions; a Senior Parachutist; and a Graduate of Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Sheila Davis, of the home; daughters, Kay Tanner and husband Jim, Montgomery, Ala., and Leslie Davis, Lubbock, Texas; sons, Mark Davis and wife Isabel, Jefferson City, Mo., and Scott Davis, Lubbock, Texas; granddaughters, Joy Tanner and husband Jeremy, Birmingham, Ala., Lisa Davis, Kansas City, Mo., Jessica Bell and husband John, Jefferson City, Mo., Lillian Gamblin, Jefferson City, Mo.; grandson, Jimmy Tanner and wife Sarah, Montgomery, Ala.; and four great-grandchildren.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Johnson City Medical Center and to Mountain States Health Alliance Hospice for their great care and support.
A service to honor the life of Sidney L. Davis, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret) will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, November 18, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton with Military Chaplain officiating. Special music will be provided by Sarah Tanner, pianist. The family will receive friends from noon until 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, prior the service. The committal and interment will follow the service at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Mountain Home National Cemetery with full military honors provided by the United States Air Force. Pope Air Force Base. Active pallbearers will be provided by the U.S. Military. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Jeter, Bill Armstrong Sr., Dr. Bill Armstrong Jr., Robert S. Kan, Colonel USAF (Ret), Lt. Colonel James J. Tanner, USAF (Ret), James Davis Tanner and Bobby Purvis Sr., Master Sergeant, USAF (Ret). Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers, may make donations to the Johnson City Humane Society, 2101 W. Walnut Street, Johnson City, TN 37604; or by going to www.hswctn.org/donate, in honor of Sidney L. Davis, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret). Online condolences may be shared with the family at our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton is serving the family of Sidney L. Davis, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret). Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.