THE WALL OF FACES

SGT James L. Davis served with B Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Davis’ enlisted MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) was “Pioneer,” the title given to soldiers employed to perform engineering and construction tasks. The 1st Cavalry Division landed in South Vietnam in three stages during the period of August to October 1965. Davis arrived with his unit on August 18th. One of the first tasks of the division was to establish its base of operations at An Khe along National Route QL-19 in western Binh Dinh Province. The future Camp Radcliff would be transformed from a small tent city to a large base camp of wood frame and metal prefabricated buildings. During this period, Davis became infected with malaria, a mosquito-borne disease. After treatment at the 2nd Surgical Hospital at An Khe, he was medically evacuated to Japan where he expired November 12, 1965. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Engineers at War” by Adrian G. Traas; obituary from The Columbus Enquirer Sun (Columbus, GA), November 15, 1965, courtesy of Callie McGinnis, Muscogee Genealogical Society, Columbus, GA]

Taken from The Columbus Enquirer Sun (Columbus, GA), November 23, 1965, courtesy of Callie McGinnis, Muscogee Genealogical Society, Columbus, GA.

Taken from The Columbus Ledger (Columbus, GA), November 15, 1965, courtesy of Callie McGinnis, Muscogee Genealogical Society, Columbus, GA.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Without people like you our great nation would not exist. Rest in peace SGT. Davis, I salute your brave soul.