lest we forget

DAVIS, ROBERT ORLIFF

Rank / Branch:

  • PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY

Date Of Birth:

  • 1945-11-28

Country Of Loss:

  • SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

  • HOSTILE-GUN SHOT

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:​

  • GROUND

Other:

  • NOT MARRIED

Unit:

  • 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION

Date Of Loss:

  • 1966-08-12

Loss Coordinates:

  • PHU YEN

Catagory:

  • BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

  • SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

  • DAVIS, ROBERT ORLIFF, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY, COLORADO CITY, MITCHELL, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • COMBAT INFANTRYMANS BADGE, PARACHUTE WINGS, BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

BIOGRAPHY

  • Robert O. Davis was born in Okolona, Mississippi. He was the 5th of eight children born to Etna Banks Welch Davis and George Ellis Davis, Sr. He was raised in Colorado City, Texas. He was known by his nickname of "Tiger." While in high school he played football and also was a member of the band. He played a beautiful French Horn. His sister stated that he liked to play pool and hang out. He was a "Robin Hood" of sorts. He was always for the underdog. Many times, he would fight for the little guy. He loved to dance and sing. He spoke his mind and most people thought he was a great guy. He was a 1964 graduate of Colorado City High School.
  • He enlisted in the Army as soon as he graduated. He trained as an infantryman and went to Fort Benning, Georgia and was jump qualified.
  • He was assigned to HHC, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He mobilized with the 502nd from Fort Campbell, Kentucky to Vietnam in January 1966. He had a broken jaw and was delayed going over. He was killed in an ambush with Viet Cong forces on August 12, 1966. He walking point when the V.C. initiated the event, He sustained a gunshot wound to his left eye.
  • He was buried with full military honors in the Colorado City Cemetery. He was survived by his parents, his brothers, George Ellis; Billy Dale; Darrel Banks and Gene Allen; by his sisters, Cora Maynette; Rebecca Ruth and Martha Fay.
  • His parents are now deceased, his brother George Ellis Jr. lives in Clearfield, Utah and is a Vietnam Veteran with the U.S. Air Force and is married; Billy Dale lives in Odessa and is married; Gene Allen lives in Sawyer, Oklahoma and is single; Cora Maynette Davis lives in Sugar Land, Texas, teaches at Fort Bend Baptist Academy and is single; Rebecca Ruth Davis Wallingsford lives in Slaton, Texas and is married and Martha Faye Davis Lutz is deceased and is buried in Colorado City in the family plot.
  • COLORADO CITY HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 1964
  • COLORADO CITY CEMETERY