Rear Admiral David R. MORRIS, USN (Ret),
Golden Eagle Emeritus
 

Gentlemen,
 
It is my sad duty to report that on Monday, 26 October 2026, Golden Eagle Emeritus RADM David R. “Snake” MORRIS, USN (Ret), made his Last Take Off at his residence in San Antonio, Texas.
 
RADM David MORRIS was born in San Deigo, California, on 10 May 1935. He grew up in Tooele, Utah, and graduated from the University of Utah in June 1957. Dave received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; he was commissioned via the NROTC program and was accepted into the Naval Aviation Officer Training Program.
 
Snake’s Naval Aviation journey began in September 1957 after a TDY on the USS Oak Hill (LSD 7). Dave commenced training at Naval Air Basic Training Command (NABTC), NAS Pensacola, Florida. During this tour which lasted until September 1958 he flew and was qualified in the T-34 Mentor, T-28 Trojan and T-2V Buckeye. And in December 1958 Ensign MORRIS was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. Once complete with Basic, Snake headed to NAAS Kingsville, Texas and Naval Aviation Advanced Training Command (NAATC) for training in the F9F-8 Panther and F-11 Demon. On 1 June 1959 Snake graduated, earned his Wings of Gold and received orders to VF-124, the Fleet Replacement Program for training in the TF9F-8T Panther and the F-8U Crusader.
 
In August 1960 Dave completed training and was ordered to VF-91 Red Lightnings. He served as Flight Officer and deployed on the USS Ranger (CVA 61), flying the F-8. During this tour Snake was promoted to Lieutenant. After completing his first operational tour he transferred back to VF-124 in February 1963 as an instructor. During this Gunfighters tour he served as the Personnel and Weapons Training Officer. After two years of instructing Snake was ordered to VF-194 Red Lightnings as the Administrative Officer at NAS Miramar, California. During this tour the squadron was assigned first to USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31) and then to USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14). Additionally, Snake had combat deployments to Vietnam on both carriers. The first from October to January 1966 and the second from October 1966 to May 1967 flying the F-8E. In June 1966 Snake was promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
 
At the completion of his combat deployments in VF-194, Snake was ordered back to VF-124 for another Fleet Replacement Pilot (FRP) instructor tour at NAS Miramar, California. There he served as Plans & Programs Officer and instructed in the F-8. In February 1969 Dave was ordered to VF-62 Boomerangs as Operations Officer and deployed on USS Shangri La (CVA 38). That tour ended in September when Dave was ordered to Commander Carrier Group Five as Assistant Air Operations & Plans Officer deploying to the South China Sea until the fall of 1970.
 
In October, Dave received orders to VX-4 The Evaluators as Administrative Officer and Project Test Pilot at NAS Point Mugu, California. There he flew the F-4 Phantom II, F-8, TA-4J Skyhawk and US-2A Tracker. In August 1971 Dave was promoted to Commander and in September Dave was ordered to VF-24 Fighting Renegades as Executive Officer homebased at NAS Miramar, California. The squadron deployed on USS Hancock (CVA 19). In June 1972 Snake took command of the squadron during combat operations. The squadron returned from South Vietnam in October and Snake had his Change of Command the following June.
 
Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, came next where Snake attended from June 1973 to June 1974 and was recognized as a Graduate of Distinction. Additionally, he earned a master’s degree in political science from Auburn University. After graduation Snake received orders to USS Ranger (CVA 61) as CATCC / Air Operations Officer and then Operations Officer. This tour ended in October 1976. Next stop Commander Naval Air Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet as Executive Assistant / Flag Secretary. In June 1979 Dave was promoted to Captain and then in July headed back to school and attended the Senior Officer Ship Material Readiness course followed by the Surface Warfare Officers School Command in NS Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduation and in February 1980 Captain Dave MORRIS was ordered to USS St. Louis (LKA 116) as Commanding Officer. Having successfully served two years in command Dave was selected for and assumed duties as Commander, Amphibious Squadron One. He served as the Commander until February 1984.
 
The next assignment for Dave was Office of the CNO as Assistant for JCS Matters, Strategy, Plans and Policy Division (OP-60) for eleven months. In January 1985 Dave received orders to Naval Military Personnel Command as Director, Aviation Officers Distribution Division (NMPC-43). In June 1986 Dave was assigned as Chief of Naval Air Training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. While there he found time to fly the TA-4J Skyhawk.
 
In June 1987 Dave was selected and promoted to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) and in July 1988 RDML MORRIS was selected for and assigned to be Commander, Carrier Group Eight. During this tour, he led the 1989 Freedom of Navigation exercises off North Africa, when a pair of Libyan MiG-23s Floggers launched from Al Bumbah airfield towards the CVBG and were downed by two F-14 Tomcats. Dave also found time to fly the F-14 Tomcat, A-6 Intruder and the S-3 Viking. This great tour came to an end in April 1990 when Dave was assigned to CINCLANTFLT as Director of Operations / N-3 / CTF-84. After a year in that position and with his promotion to Rear Admiral (Upper Half) in February 1991 Dave assumed the position of Deputy and Chief of Staff. In August 1993 Dave was selected for and assigned as the Deputy Commander in Chief at CINCUSNAVEUR. In March 1995 Snake was designated as the Navy’s “Gray Eagle,” longest servicing aviator on active duty. He held the award until February 1996. RADM David R. MORRIS retired from active duty on 31 March 1996.
 
During his active service RADM MORRIS commanded five commands, flew over 300 combat missions, accumulated over 4,400 flight hours and was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, 26 Air Medals; six Individual and 20 Strike Flight Air Medals, and two Naval Commendation Medals with Combat “V.” During his flying career Dave also accumulated 809 arrested landings with the last one at the age of 60. Additionally, Dave was one of five pilots to accumulate 3,000 hours in the F-8 Crusader.
 
RADM MORRIS was also authorized to wear Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star, Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation with two Bronze Stars, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, in addition to several other lesser medals and awards. He was an active member of the F-8 Crusader Association, the Association of Naval Aviation and the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
 
RADM Dave MORRIS leaves behind his lifetime partner and wife Katherine, his son Darin C. Morris, daughter Drew Morris Boomer, and sisters Loretta Pralle and Rosalie Francis. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold L. Morris of Concord, California and his mother Reah Harris Doane of Tooele, Utah.
 
RADM David R. MORRIS, USN (Ret), will be interred at Fort Sam Houston Military Cemetery on 18 November 2026 at 1000.
 
He will be missed. …
 
In Sadness,
Matt MOFFIT
Pilot