Born: January 30, 1920
Died: June 22, 1944
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (killed)
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations: Purple Heart
Fred Davis was born in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1920. He traveled to Raleigh to enlist, and completed boot camp at Parris Island. He was one of the original riflemen of Able Company, 24th Marines. Davis fought well on Namur, and was placed in command of a fire team during the division's training period at Camp Maui.
On July 22, while fighting on Saipan, Davis' company was ambushed and surrounded. Nobody could tell where the Japanese fire was coming from. A well-placed or unlucky shot hit Davis in the back. After being treated by a corpsman, stretcher bearers rushed him back to a jeep, which brought him back to the beach area for evacuation to one of the offlying hospital ships.
Fred Davis died before he could be evacuated. He was buried in Grave 16, Row 3, Plot C of the Second Marine Division cemetery, as his own division was on the opposite side of the island.
After the war, Davis' mother requested that her son's remains be brought back to the United States. He was reburied in West Memorial Park Cemetery in Weaverville.
Photo by James Archer, FindAGrave.com volunteer.