Biography of Edward E. Davis

Edward E. Davis, also known as Earl Davis, was born in early 1916. He is currently 97 years old, and is at least the oldest living World War II veteran in Smyth County, Virginia. At age twenty five, on September 8, 1941, Davis was drafted into the United States Army and was sent for basic training in South Carolina. He was one of five children, all boys, and they all served in the United States military. His official title in the United States Army was to be a carrier, a mortar gunner and ammunition carrier. Davis was married to Mary Irene Tolliver Davis, who unfortunately passed away on March 29, 2005 at 82 years old.

While most of the world had enlisted armies and were fighting with one another, the United States of America was still claiming neutrality and isolationism during most of 1941. Because of this, Davis was required to go through basic training, but had yet to see any form of combat. However, on December 7, 1941, all of that was set to change. From American views, at 7:46AM on December 7, America was still considered neutral and not formally involved in the war. At 7:48AM, Bombing began at the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Imperial Japanese Navy had snuck in and bombed the majority of the United States fleet docked at the Hawaiian base. This officially ended the United States’ neutrality, and on December 8, 1941, The United States officially declared war on Japan.

Davis recalled the bombings of Pearl Harbor, but only has a moment that meant he was going to war. On the day of the bombing, Davis said he was peeling potatoes in the kitchen at his base when the announcement was made of the bombings. Davis also recalled how he had signed to be deployed to Panama, and was told he would receive a f...

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...ene, and his six children.

Davis does not resent being drafted into the military, even at the age of twenty-five. He believes that it helped him mature and shape who he really was, and even allowed him to return home with new options and viewpoints on life. He also accredited the war with strengthening his bond with his wife. While they had not been married for too long prior to his departure in 1941, once he arrived home, he never wanted to see life again without her, and in turn, they remained married up until her recent death in 2005. Davis continued in life to have six children, which led to eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and on great-great-grandchild. He hopes that if nothing else gets passed on through the generations, his legacy of fighting for freedoms not only in America, but also overseas will carry through with each of his family members.