....
...
THE DREAM
.......This is the story of two young Grand Junction men who had a dream. Tom Doody and Marshall Davis.
They met when they were Freshmen at Central High School in 1963. There they
became best of friends. They joined the Civil Air Patrol. At Walker Field
they learned to parachute and fly fixed wing aircraft. They both reached
the rank of Captain. Upon graduating in 1967 they started formulating a
plan to service the Aspen and Vail Ski Resorts. A very innovative idea for
two 18 year old boys. They decided to attend Rangley College where they
could earn their commercial license by the end of their sophomore year.
After they had obtained their licenses they decided that their business
would be better served if they also could fly helicopters. Joining the U.S.
Army they could also take advantage of the G.I. Bill. This would put all
the pieces together and make their dream come true. Tommy is sent to Ft.
Wolters for Primary Helicopter School. Marshall joins the Engineering Corp.
In 1970 both men are sent to Vietnam. After flying over 225 combat missions
Tom is ordered to ferry troops into Laos. The invasion was called Lam Son
719. On Feb. 8th 1971 his helicopter is shot down and explodes on impact.
Several days later a rescue team arrives and finds the remains of 3 American
crew members. One man is missing. So our family waited and prayed that he
had made it out alive. Tom received the Purple Heart, Air Medal w/ 10 oak
leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Army Commendation
Medal, and several others. Upon request from my Mother, Marshall escorted
my brothers remains back to Grand Jct. for a military burial. On March 25th
1971 he was laid to rest. While the 21 Gun Salute was taking place, the
first Civil Air Patrol plane (a Piper Cub) that Tom had flown passed over
our heads. Marshall returned to the war. The last time I saw him was a year
later on Feb. 8th 1972. He brought my Mom flowers and visited with her for
an hour. Marshall married and had 3 children. He flew helicopters for several
companies in the Southwest. Later he moved his family to Pendleton, Oregon
where he flew Ambulance. On Dec. 3rd 1986 Marshall died in a helicopter
accident when he encountered severe weather.
LINKS
HOME TOM DOODY MARSHALL DAVIS HISTORY & PROGRESS