Retired Navy Capt. Edward A. Davis, who was 67, died Nov. 7 of pancreatic cancer near his home in Lancaster, Pa.
Davis was a North Vietnam prisoner of war for 7-1/2 years. After retirement he became an outstanding motivational speaker, focusing on management under difficult circumstances – a subject he knew well.
Davis had flown 57 combat missions off the aircraft carrier Oriskany before being shot down on Aug. 26, 1965. After spending the night in a rainy ditch with a large snake for company, he was captured and marched for 19 days to Hanoi, where he was held and tortured at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison. He was released in February 1973.
Davis was a Pennsylvania native who was a champion rower at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1962. He became a prolific and inspiring public speaker, appearing most often before educational and government agency groups.
— Thomas F. Norton
