World War II Honoree

Joseph W. Davis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Unaka, North Carolina

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY SEPTEMBER 7, 1943 AT CAMP CROFT, NORTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN EUROPE WITH THE 116TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. HIS DIVISION WAS A UNIT OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD. DURING THE ASSAULT, THE 116TH REGIMENT WENT ASHORE ON OMAHA BEACH AND HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY. HE WAS INTERRED IN A NORMANDY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, FOR BURIAL IN THE UNAKA CEMETERY, UNAKA, NORTH CAROLINA.