My father, Elvin Clay Davis was born on January 16th 1918 in Red Boiling Springs Tennessee. His parents were Willie Dillard Davis and Blanche Davis (Nixon)
He worked on his parents farm and lists his occupations as "Farm hand, general" from October 1937 until October 1940.
On October 4th 1940 He enlisted in the United States Navy in Nashville Tennessee.
From his DD214 it appears he took his basic training at NTS Norfolk, Virginia. After he completed his training he was transferred to the USS Arizona.
I am told that on the night of December 6th 1941 he was below deck shooting craps with his shipmates. Early the next morning while sleeping in his bunk he was awoken as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. December 7th 1941 he was on board the USS Arizona as it was hit and destroyed by Japanese forces. He scooped up the money he had won and stashed it in the clothes he was wearing. I have one of the two dollar bills he took with him that day. It is stained dark with Diesel oil, presumably stained when he abandoned ship. Later in life his brother asked him how he got off of the ship. His simple response was "You were here and I was there, now you know as much as I do about how I got off the ship. After all the explosions I ended up in the water near a rubber raft, and that's all I know about it.
After the USS Arizona he was transferred to the USS Lexington. He was transferred off that ship 36 hours before she was sunk in the battle of the Coral Sea.
Other ships and stations were
USS Thomas Stone
US Naval Station Oran Africa
NAS Patuxent River, Maryland
USS Oberon
Awards and Medals.
American Defense Medal
American Theater Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (two stars)
European African Middle Eastern Medal (1 star)
Victory Medal World War II
Navy Occupation (European)
National Defense Medal
He continued his Naval service for 30 years. Seeing service through Korea and Vietnam.
He ultimately retired from the Navy at Naval Station San Diego. He eventually moved back to Red Boiling Springs and finished his days there. He was laid to rest in the Smith Chapel Cemetery in Red Boiling Springs Tennessee on Thursday April 16th 1985
He worked on his parents farm and lists his occupations as "Farm hand, general" from October 1937 until October 1940.
On October 4th 1940 He enlisted in the United States Navy in Nashville Tennessee.
From his DD214 it appears he took his basic training at NTS Norfolk, Virginia. After he completed his training he was transferred to the USS Arizona.
I am told that on the night of December 6th 1941 he was below deck shooting craps with his shipmates. Early the next morning while sleeping in his bunk he was awoken as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. December 7th 1941 he was on board the USS Arizona as it was hit and destroyed by Japanese forces. He scooped up the money he had won and stashed it in the clothes he was wearing. I have one of the two dollar bills he took with him that day. It is stained dark with Diesel oil, presumably stained when he abandoned ship. Later in life his brother asked him how he got off of the ship. His simple response was "You were here and I was there, now you know as much as I do about how I got off the ship. After all the explosions I ended up in the water near a rubber raft, and that's all I know about it.
After the USS Arizona he was transferred to the USS Lexington. He was transferred off that ship 36 hours before she was sunk in the battle of the Coral Sea.
Other ships and stations were
USS Thomas Stone
US Naval Station Oran Africa
NAS Patuxent River, Maryland
USS Oberon
Awards and Medals.
American Defense Medal
American Theater Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (two stars)
European African Middle Eastern Medal (1 star)
Victory Medal World War II
Navy Occupation (European)
National Defense Medal
He continued his Naval service for 30 years. Seeing service through Korea and Vietnam.
He ultimately retired from the Navy at Naval Station San Diego. He eventually moved back to Red Boiling Springs and finished his days there. He was laid to rest in the Smith Chapel Cemetery in Red Boiling Springs Tennessee on Thursday April 16th 1985
My father, Elvin Clay Davis was born on January 16th 1918 in Red Boiling Springs Tennessee. His parents were Willie Dillard Davis and Blanche Davis (Nixon)
He worked on his parents farm and lists his occupations as "Farm hand, general" from October 1937 until October 1940.
On October 4th 1940 He enlisted in the United States Navy in Nashville Tennessee.
From his DD214 it appears he took his basic training at NTS Norfolk, Virginia. After he completed his training he was transferred to the USS Arizona.
I am told that on the night of December 6th 1941 he was below deck shooting craps with his shipmates. Early the next morning while sleeping in his bunk he was awoken as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. December 7th 1941 he was on board the USS Arizona as it was hit and destroyed by Japanese forces. He scooped up the money he had won and stashed it in the clothes he was wearing. I have one of the two dollar bills he took with him that day. It is stained dark with Diesel oil, presumably stained when he abandoned ship. Later in life his brother asked him how he got off of the ship. His simple response was "You were here and I was there, now you know as much as I do about how I got off the ship. After all the explosions I ended up in the water near a rubber raft, and that's all I know about it.
After the USS Arizona he was transferred to the USS Lexington. He was transferred off that ship 36 hours before she was sunk in the battle of the Coral Sea.
Other ships and stations were
USS Thomas Stone
US Naval Station Oran Africa
NAS Patuxent River, Maryland
USS Oberon
Awards and Medals.
American Defense Medal
American Theater Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (two stars)
European African Middle Eastern Medal (1 star)
Victory Medal World War II
Navy Occupation (European)
National Defense Medal
He continued his Naval service for 30 years. Seeing service through Korea and Vietnam.
He ultimately retired from the Navy at Naval Station San Diego. He eventually moved back to Red Boiling Springs and finished his days there. He was laid to rest in the Smith Chapel Cemetery in Red Boiling Springs Tennessee on Thursday April 16th 1985
He worked on his parents farm and lists his occupations as "Farm hand, general" from October 1937 until October 1940.
On October 4th 1940 He enlisted in the United States Navy in Nashville Tennessee.
From his DD214 it appears he took his basic training at NTS Norfolk, Virginia. After he completed his training he was transferred to the USS Arizona.
I am told that on the night of December 6th 1941 he was below deck shooting craps with his shipmates. Early the next morning while sleeping in his bunk he was awoken as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. December 7th 1941 he was on board the USS Arizona as it was hit and destroyed by Japanese forces. He scooped up the money he had won and stashed it in the clothes he was wearing. I have one of the two dollar bills he took with him that day. It is stained dark with Diesel oil, presumably stained when he abandoned ship. Later in life his brother asked him how he got off of the ship. His simple response was "You were here and I was there, now you know as much as I do about how I got off the ship. After all the explosions I ended up in the water near a rubber raft, and that's all I know about it.
After the USS Arizona he was transferred to the USS Lexington. He was transferred off that ship 36 hours before she was sunk in the battle of the Coral Sea.
Other ships and stations were
USS Thomas Stone
US Naval Station Oran Africa
NAS Patuxent River, Maryland
USS Oberon
Awards and Medals.
American Defense Medal
American Theater Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (two stars)
European African Middle Eastern Medal (1 star)
Victory Medal World War II
Navy Occupation (European)
National Defense Medal
He continued his Naval service for 30 years. Seeing service through Korea and Vietnam.
He ultimately retired from the Navy at Naval Station San Diego. He eventually moved back to Red Boiling Springs and finished his days there. He was laid to rest in the Smith Chapel Cemetery in Red Boiling Springs Tennessee on Thursday April 16th 1985
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