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Major David Cecil Underwood, Jr. (U.S. Army, Ret.), Son of the American Revolution, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, died on June 9, 2023, in his beloved Virginia after a stunning, year-long valiant battle with cancer that entirely eroded his jaw and neck. He was 52.
After a sudden diagnosis, David and his determined wife Abby relocated to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to attempt multiple progressive surgeries to bravely build a new jaw. It was a bright and hopeful time of tenacity and grit, and the Underwoods were in awe of the extraordinary Walter Reed community.
David was born in sunny Oklahoma on July 1, 1970, to Colonel David Cecil Underwood, Sr. (USAF, Ret.) whose unique Air Force career sparked his son’s lifetime love of history-based travel, and June Ellen Underwood, a loving and encouraging mother who set her son’s bar for joy. David and his younger brother Sean lost June Ellen to breast cancer when she was 58. In recent years, David was tickled by the lively longhorn cattle raised by Colonel Dad and his wife Margaret.
David was a most mischievous kiddo for his entire life. Anyone who knew him would cheerfully agree it was not possible to handle an Underwood escapade without needing a week’s sleep to recover.
Looking for high adventure, David entered the Army Reserve as an Airborne infantryman and later joined the Virginia National Guard while attending the Virginia Military Institute.
In 1994, David went on active duty with the 82nd Airborne Division and joined a tour with the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai, Egypt. In 1998, he was commissioned as an artillery officer and joined the 1st Infantry Division in Germany and the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He enjoyed assignments in North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Iraq.
On Jan. 16, 2008, Major Underwood sustained an IED injury in Iraq that severed his left hand at the wrist. Ever exuberant, David often introduced “Mr. Stumpy” to never miss an opportunity to express his gratitude to be alive. While recovering at Walter Reed, he used his six months Wounded Warrior stay to finish a master’s degree in history. A highlight of his time there included an impromptu invitation by then President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush to a Nationals Baseball game.
While at Walter Reed, he and Malissa, the wonderful mother of their two children, witnessed daughter Alexandra, then 5 years old, find her calling. Alex is now 19 and a hardworking and curious ROTC Army, pre-medical student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dad recently said this made him “once-in-a-lifetime proud.”
David never missed a chance to brag about his son Thomas, 21, a kind and loyal pilot in Texas. Dad often said Thomas figured out the secret to life early on – the enthusiasm to talk with anyone, anywhere.
After being wounded, David served as a Department of Defense contractor from 2010 to 2017 as a reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.
David’s lifelong contentment came from the countless hours spent with his well-curated and studied collection acquired from all over the world. A keen philatelist, David was deeply grateful to his esteemed mentor, Phoebe MacGillivary of New York, for introducing him, as a boy, to a 40-year obsession with all things international philately. Never without a stamp-filled passenger bag, David authored several research papers on Rhodesian Double Heads and other stamps of the British Commonwealth, including the Falkland Islands and Bermuda. A member of the Royal Philatelic Society, London, David was often overseas adding to his bag before dinner with collector friends.
His extensive collection of items from the Royal Visits to India 1905-06, the Royal Archives, and African Tribal Masks is now “back in to the world” as David dreamed. Friends look forward to seeing the exhibits in museums in the United Kingdom.
Fun along the way over the years included 256 international scuba dives, and David particularly enjoyed the Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (S.U.D.S.) trips. David also entered several Vail Veterans Soldier Ride cycling fundraiser challenges.
David’s second marriage to Kierstin Higgins, and her sweet daughter Gracie, ended in divorce but remained a lasting friendship.
David loved exploring the world. His best memories were travels with Thomas and Alexandra. He and Abby took Thomas and Alex to England, Germany (where Thomas was born), Austria, Hungary, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and later to Canada. Abby fondly remembers a wedding trip driving all of Iceland for a month, a different magical spot every night, and David and Abby always looked forward to attending Wimbledon. Grandson of Henry Cecil Underwood, an accomplished war photographer, David leaves behind his computer still full of pictures from recent months in China and Africa, all evermore precious photos now.
In the past eight years living in Virginia, David loved to spend time with Abby’s 25 weekly piano students who were more often than not up to new antics in his orange SMART CAR with Purple Heart plates “OOUCHY.”
David spent his last weeks at Walter Reed planning surprises for Alexandra and Thomas, while looking forward to living at his just-purchased retirement lake house.
Now, as Davy must courageously be the first of us to go he will sign off as any good United States Army infantryman would, he shall climb this hill and then turn to yell, “Follow Me!”
Anyone who wishes to make a donation in Major David Cecil Underwood Jr.’s memory may join the Underwood family in thanking the entire Walter Reed community, especially the remarkably skilled and compassionate Dr. Jason Burkes and Dr. Anna Torgeson by sending a donation in their honor to: The Walter Reed Society, 901 Rockville Pike, Box 303, Bethesda, MD, 20889.
The Underwood family would also like to thank David’s lifetime best friends Chris and Darren for their most appreciated help this year.
Major Underwood will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
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