Herman Davis
Encyclopedia
Herman Davis was born in Manila, Arkansas
. He was a United States
Infantry
Private
Company I, 113th Infantry Regiment, 29th division during World War I
.
On October 10, 1918, he achieved distinction by killing four German
machine gunners, using a standard-issue 1903 Springfield with open sights, near Verdun
during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
. The gunners had pinned his platoon down and his actions secured safety to advance for the platoon. His marksmanship was attributed to skill he had developed as a youngster hunting small game in the Big Lake
area.
General Pershing
named Davis fourth among the 100 greatest heroes of World War I. He received the Distinguished Service Cross
, the Croix de Guerre with palm the Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star and the Médaille Militaire
awards from the American and French
governments. After the war, he returned home, and died four years later on January 5, 1923 during an operation related to tuberculosis
he possibly contracted resulting from exposure to poison gas.
Herman Davis State Park
, in his hometown of Manila, a monument located in the park and a street in Manila honor him. Other streets in Davis' hometown of Manila are named after another military honoree, Admiral George Perry
Manila, Arkansas
Manila is a city in Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,055 at the 2000 census. It was the hometown of World War I sniper Herman Davis...
. He was a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
Company I, 113th Infantry Regiment, 29th division during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
On October 10, 1918, he achieved distinction by killing four German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
machine gunners, using a standard-issue 1903 Springfield with open sights, near Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
. The gunners had pinned his platoon down and his actions secured safety to advance for the platoon. His marksmanship was attributed to skill he had developed as a youngster hunting small game in the Big Lake
Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge is an 11,038 acre wildlife refuge located in Mississippi County, Arkansas managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service....
area.
General Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
named Davis fourth among the 100 greatest heroes of World War I. He received the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
, the Croix de Guerre with palm the Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star and the Médaille Militaire
Médaille militaire
The Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...
awards from the American and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
governments. After the war, he returned home, and died four years later on January 5, 1923 during an operation related to tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
he possibly contracted resulting from exposure to poison gas.
Herman Davis State Park
Herman Davis State Park
Herman Davis State Park is a state park in Manila, Arkansas, United States. The park includes the grave of and a memorial to Herman Davis, a U.S. sniper during World War I....
, in his hometown of Manila, a monument located in the park and a street in Manila honor him. Other streets in Davis' hometown of Manila are named after another military honoree, Admiral George Perry