World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Delmar Boyd Davis
Branch of Service
U.S. Merchant Marine
Hometown
Orem, Utah
Honored By
Cherisse Marie Davis
As an 18 year old, he enlisted in the U.S. Maritime Program (United States Coast Guard) as a Merchant Marine on March 26, 1945, despite a physical ailment that prevented his service in the Navy and Army. His strong determination to serve his country was realized in the Merchant Marine. His initial training began at Santa Catalina Island off the coast of California where he qualified for the Radio Operator program, however, the program was discontinued before his training began. He then qualified for Fireman training and on the TV Avalon completed training in the Steward’s Department in a rating of a Messman Utilityman (F.H.) on May 4, 1945. He was eager to be posted and no ships had a position for a Fireman, so he signed up as the Utility Steward on the SS A.B. Hammond bound for Leyte, Philippine Islands with military cargo including ammunition, trucks, telephone poles, etc. The SS A.B. Hammond as an armed merchant Liberty Ship sailed without convey. Her crew included 23 Navy Gun crewman and 85 Merchant Maritimers. This Liberty ship sailed with enough provisions to remain at sea up to one year. His gun station was support for the starboard side top deck 20 caliber anti-air craft gun. His missions took him around Corregidor, Manila, to San Fernando in the Philippine Islands, and Morotai, New Guinea, Australia, and Batavia, Java moving war materials and personnel. Whilst in Finch Haven, New Guinea the SS A.B. Hammond was modified into a troop carrier. They transported Australian soldiers back home to Sydney. They were loaded in Sydney with British military supplies and were outward bound for Brunei Bay, Borneo when the first atomic bomb was dropped. Hostilities were ended by the time they reached Borneo then moved on to Java. He was recognized for his ingenuity and resourcefulness in his assigned duties. Their last cargo was rubber and food materials from Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia for the USA. The SS A.B. Hammond was one of the last fully armed ships to return home. He was honorably discharged in Staten Island, New York in February 1946.