Major John Tyler Davis was born on 16 Mar 1915 in Rockwood, TN. He was educated in engineering in September 1933 at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA. He was educated in military education between 1935 and 1939 at West Point, NY. He died on 8 Jan 1945 in Belgium, in the Battle of the Bulge.
In this bloody action, appropriatedly called “Dead Man’s Ridge,” the 507’s 3rd Battalion commander, John Davis, was killed, and temporarily replaced by Allen Taylor and permanently by Roy Creek.
He was buried in 1949 at West Point, NY.
See the following for further information:
http://www.usairborne.be/Hall_of_honor/us_honor_davis.htm
http://www.asheboro.com/users/jtdavis/jtdd/d3.htm
http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/507/507_trp.html
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=90524
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, February 1, 1945:
Harriman, Feb. 1 – Major John Tyler Davis, 29, was killed in action in Belgium on Jan. 8, according to a War Department message to his wife and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Davis. Major Davis was battalion commander of an airborne division and went into action from France on New Year’s Day. He is the highest ranking Harriman officer to die in action and the fourth local commissioned officer to give his life in World War II. Major Davis was valedictorian of his senior class of Harriman High School and was outstanding in scholarship during his two years at Georgia Tech. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point on July 1, 1935, under an appointment by Congressman J. Will Taylor and held the rank of sergeant in his first class year. While there he turned out for the track team in 1937, 1937 and ’38, and also the cross country team in 1937. Major Davis went overseas early in 1944. He was seriously wounded in action in France on June 28.
- Rank: Major
- Date of birth: 16 March 1915
- Date of death: 8 January 1945
- County: Roane
- Hometown: Rockwood
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Battle of the Bulge
- Awards: Two Purple Hearts, Silver Star, Bronze Star
- Burial/Memorial Location: West Point Cemetery, Orange County, New York
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVII, Top Panel
- Sponsored by: John Romeiser
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