COURTENY CHIRM DAVIS, Jr. was born on the 18th of June 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, the first of three children of Mr. and Mrs. Courteny Davis, Sr. His early life was spent in Kenilworth, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He attended New Trier High School in Kenilworth and, when he graduated there in June 1944, he left a very impressive record, especially in athletics, behind him. After graduation from high school. Courteny attended Lawrenceville School in New Jersey in preparation for entrance into Princeton, his father's Alma Mater. During his stay at Lawrenceville, the Davis residence was changed to Wyoming, and it was from the State of Wyoming that Courteny received and accepted his appointment to the United States Military Academy.

Upon entering the Academy on July 2, 1946, Courteny or "Court", as most of his friends at the Academy knew him, naturally found the life there a bit different than that he had been leading; however, due to his great desire for activity and his ability to adapt himself quickly to a new and difficult situation, Court soon found that the rigorous schedule of cadet life, even during "Beast Barracks", was to his liking. The unlimited sports facilities at the Academy provided Court with a source of great enjoyment, for there was not a sport in which he did not excel. Too small for most varsity teams, Court's intercollegiate activities were limited to the hockey team, of which he was a varsity member for three years. His athletic efforts were not limited to this single sport however. He was the mainstay and backbone of every intramural team he played on and he spent practically all of his free time either at the gym playing squash or handball or out on the Plain playing football, softball, soccer,lacrosse, or any other sport the season provided. Court lived for athletics and the challenge every contest presented, and he carried this same spirit with him when he entered combat in Korea, the biggest contest and challenge he had yet faced.

Court's career never got the chance to develop into its full glory; for he was killed in Korea on the 13th day of September 1950, just thirteen days after entering combat. He died of machine-gun wounds received as be was leading his platoon, the assault platoon, in an attack on what was known as "Hill 188". In this attack and in the other skirmishes and patrol activities in which he had led his men. Court proved himself to be the type of leader he had wanted to be so badly. He demonstrated the courage, the determination, and the undeniable will-to-win that I had seen him demonstrate for four years at the Academy; and of even greater importance, he won the admiration, respect, and complete confidence of his fellow officers and of the men he led. He met and completely surmounted the biggest challenge of his life - that of successfully leading men in combat. I hope he realized before his death that he was a successful and admired leader, for I know that to know that would have given him infinite relief and satisfaction.

The United States Army, the Davis family, Courteny's wife, Molly, and all of Courteny's many friends have suffered an immeasurable loss; but knowing Court as I am sure I did. I know that he would not want anyone to shed tears for him. He would want us all to feel that his time had come, and that he had merely answered the final call.

Wayne A. Norby

Personal Eulogy