Free Fall: Life Lessons That Caught Me When the Parachute Didn't

by Rex Alan Davis, Chris Hodges (Foreword)

What happens when the parachute doesn’t open?

For Rex Alan Davis, a decorated Army officer, that question became a reality during a near-fatal parachute accident that left him broken, immobile, and forced into a yearlong recovery. But Free Fall is about more than a soldier’s survival—it’s about the universal moments when life rips away our safety net.

Whether through divorce, betrayal, addiction, financial collapse, or unexpected loss, everyone experiences their own “free fall”—a season when the ground gives way and we’re left Is there a way back?

With humor, candor, and the wisdom of a master storyteller, Davis weaves together his personal journey from battlefield to boardroom to ministry, offering lessons on resilience, perspective, and hope. Each chapter pairs gripping stories with practical takeaways, inviting readers to ask deeper questions, challenge themselves, and see life through a wider lens.

Free Fall will inspire you

Find strength in adversity.Reframe pain as purpose.Live intentionally with character, hope, and legacy in mind.More than a memoir, Free Fall is a guide for anyone who’s ever been knocked flat and is searching for the courage to rise again.

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Rex Davis has succeeded in three distinct career fields and has served “in the trenches” for 40 years from the battlefield to the boardroom to pastoral ministry. Rex served on active duty with the United States Army for 22 years, was a commander during combat operations in Desert Storm, was awarded the Bronze Star, and retired in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He then managed the monthly job cost forecasts for over one billion dollars of domestic and international projects for a large commercial construction firm for 8 years and has now served on a large church staff as an associate pastor the past 10 years. He specializes in the areas of stewardship, generosity, and leaving a lasting legacy. He is also an outspoken advocate for survivors of abuse, disadvantaged individuals, and military veterans.

Rex Davis holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Arkansas State University, a Master of Arts in Humanities from Louisiana State University, and a Certificate in Ministry and Leadership from Highlands College Leadership Institute.

Rex Davis is also a Kentucky Colonel and has been inducted into the Field Artillery Order of Saint Barbara, the Infantry Order of Saint Maurice, and is a Noble Patron of Armor. He earned the United States Army Ranger tab, the Airborne badge, and Air Assault badge.

Rex Davis earned the rank of Eagle Scout at 13 years old and was the first ever winner of the Ronald Reagan Leadership Award for Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was a Student Government President, a university mascot, and was a National Top Teke.

He’s married to his wife, Lisa, of 34 years, and they have one daughter, Eva, who is a University Fellows student at Samford University.

Rex is a master storyteller and can be found most mornings in local coffee shops chatting it up with anyone who wants to start their day with a few laughs and some life lessons in a cell phone free environment. He's an avid sportsman, a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, and owns a really nice set of golf clubs that he uses as props as he creates cherished memories driving around manicured green pastures with friends and acquaintances.