Jack A. Davenport
Encyclopedia
Jack Arden Davenport was a former Golden Gloves
boxer and a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor
for his heroic actions and sacrifice of life during the Korean War
.
, where he was a member of the freshman football team.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 25, 1950, and completed his recruit training
at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
, California, that September. He was then stationed with the Training and Replacement Command at Camp Pendleton
, California, until December 1950, when he embarked to join the 5th Marines in Korea
.
In the early morning of September 21, 1951, Corporal Davenport sacrificed his life to save the life of a fellow Marine in Korea. He was standing watch together with another Marine when an enemy hand grenade
landed in their foxhole. Without thought of his own safety, Davenport found the grenade in the dark and smothered its explosion with his own body in order to save the life of his fellow Marine.
His body was returned to the United States in January 1952 to be buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Hickman Mills, Missouri
. Davenport's father, Fred received the Medal of Honor on January 7, 1953 from U.S. Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball
in Washington, D.C.
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
boxer and a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his heroic actions and sacrifice of life during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Biography
Jack Davenport was born September 7, 1931 in Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from high school in 1949. While in high school, he was a newspaper carrier for the Kansas City Star and played American Legion baseball for three seasons. Upon completing high school, he studied for a year at the University of KansasUniversity of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, where he was a member of the freshman football team.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 25, 1950, and completed his recruit training
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is a United States Marine Corps military installation in San Diego, California. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to San Diego International Airport and the former Naval Training Center San Diego...
, California, that September. He was then stationed with the Training and Replacement Command at Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
, California, until December 1950, when he embarked to join the 5th Marines in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
.
In the early morning of September 21, 1951, Corporal Davenport sacrificed his life to save the life of a fellow Marine in Korea. He was standing watch together with another Marine when an enemy hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
landed in their foxhole. Without thought of his own safety, Davenport found the grenade in the dark and smothered its explosion with his own body in order to save the life of his fellow Marine.
His body was returned to the United States in January 1952 to be buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Hickman Mills, Missouri
Hickman Mills, Kansas City
Hickman Mills is a neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri and the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. There is good access to the Interstate highway system, with I-435 and I-470 running through the area, including the Grandview Triangle. It also includes Longview Lake and Longview Community College...
. Davenport's father, Fred received the Medal of Honor on January 7, 1953 from U.S. Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball
Dan A. Kimball
Dan Able Kimball was the 50th U.S. Secretary of the Navy.-Biography:Kimball was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 1, 1896. He was an Army Air Service pilot during the First World War and maintained an intense interest in aviation thereafter...
in Washington, D.C.
Awards and decorations
Cpl Davenport's awards include:
Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients