World War II Honoree

Charles Henry Davis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Petrolia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Paula Davis & Family

Relationship

Daughter

CORPORAL. SERVED IN 1170TH ANTI-SURFACE SHIP WARFARE. WHILE SERVING AS A PRIVATE WITH COMPANY C, 1ST MEDICAL BATTALION, ON NOVEMBER 19,1944, FEARLESSLY CROSSED TERRAIN UNDER HEAVY ARTILLERY AND MORTAR FIRE, TO ADMINISTER PLASMA TO A CRITICALLY WOUNDED SOLDIER. IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROISM, WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR AND LATER RECEIVED A BRONZE STAR FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT DURING MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER. AFTER LEARNING THAT A SERIOUSLY WOUNDED SOLDIER COULD NOT BE EVACUATED BECAUSE OF HEAVY ENEMY FIRE, SECURED BLOOD PLASMA AND VOLUNTARILY WENT TO THE AID OF THE WOUNDED MAN. RAN THROUGH A HEAVY BOMBARDMENT OF ENEMY ARTILLERY AND MORTAR FIRE, AND REACHED THE SOLDIER'S SIDE AND ADMINISTERED THE PLASMA. DESPITE EXPOSURE TO ENEMY SMALL ARMS FIRE, STAYED WITH THE WOUNDED MAN UNTIL THE ENEMY WITHDREW AND EVACUATION WAS POSSIBLE. ENTERED U.S. ARMY OCTOBER 1939, AT PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. SENT TO FORT HOYLE, MARYLAND FOR 2 WEEKS OF BASIC TRAINING WITH 8TH MEDICAL BATTALION. IN JUNE 1940, THE 8TH MEDICAL BATTALION WAS DESIGNATED THE 1ST MEDICAL BATTALION AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION AT FORT DEVENS, MASSACHUSETTS. ON AUGUST 2, 1942, SAILED FOR SCOTLAND ABOARD THE QUEEN MARY. LEAVING SCOTLAND, SPENT 30 DAYS ON THE OCEAN BEFORE LANDING AT ALGERIA, NORTH AFRICA. WAS ATTACHED TO THE BRITISH 1ST ARMY, AND WENT THROUGH HARD FIGHTING IN AFRICA. FOR SERVICE IN AFRICA, WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL. AFTER THE END OF FIGHTING IN AFRICA, THE WAR BROUGHT HIM TO THE LANDING IN SICILY JULY 10, 1943. IN NOVEMBER 1943, RETURNED WITH HIS UNIT TO ENGLAND FOR EXTENSIVE LANDING AND BEACHHEAD OPERATIONS. THE UNIT WAS ALSO A PART OF THE SOUTHERN COAST DEFENSES. WAS TO SEE ANOTHER D-DAY DAWN WHEN THE OUTFIT SAILED FOR NORMANDY AND LANDED IN THE FIRST WAVE OF TROOPS JUNE 6, 1944. WAS WITH HIS UNIT FROM THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY TO FRANCE AND GERMANY, TO EGAR, CZECHOSLOVAKIA. AT THE END OF THE WAR, RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND WAS DISCHARGED JULY 5, 1945 AT FOR DEVENS. REMAINED A CIVILIAN FOR A SHORT WHILE, THEN RE-ENLISTED MARCH 12, 1947. SERVED AS A CASUAL AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY FOR 3 MONTHS, THEN WENT TO MURPHY GENERAL HOSPITAL. CAME TO FORT DEVENS TO SERVE WITH THE POST ENGINEERS UNTIL SENT TO CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA. AT THE COMPLETION OF HIS SCHOOL TERM, RETURNED TO WORK IN THE ARMY EDUCATION CENTER AT FORT DEVENS.