Charles Davis

Charles Davis shot running target for the United States at the 1972 Olympics. Davis started shooting as a youngster in the Eastern Kentucky hills, beginning with a slingshot, then a BB gun, and progressing to rifle shooting. A Kentucky native, he spent a career in the military, serving in both Korea and Vietnam. He joined the US Navy after leaving high school, but moved to the US Army. and started shooting rifle with the 34th Infantry Regiment in 1954. He then spent 21 years with the US Army Marksmanship Unit. Davis graduated from Centre College of Danville, Kentucky in 1952.

Davis was US Champion in running target in 1972 and also won the Interservice Title in running target that year. He was 1961 US Champion with the military rifle. He competed at multiple internationals for the United States from 1956-82, including the 1960 and 1968 CISM Championships. He earned his Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1957, won the Daniel Boone Trophy in 1959, and was the National Service Rifle Champion in 1961. In 1968 he became the only shooter to win both the Wimbledon and Leech Cups in the same year, and in 1971 he again won the Wimbledon Cup. In 1973 he earned his International Distinguished Badge.

Davis earned numerous awards and medals, including the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, President’s Hundred Tab, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal (seven), American Area Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation.