COL Charles W. Davis [Dec.] Ft. Leavenworth Hall of Fame InductionMay 11, 2010

Remarks by J. Kirk Davis, Son

General and Mrs Caslen, Honorable Boswell, distinguished guests, friends and members of the Army family and, last but never least, students of the Command and General Staff College, along with my sister, Carol Denier, we are distinctly honored and privileged to serve as our father’s emissary.

On behalf of our father and members of the Charles W. Davis family gathered here as well as those who are here only in spirit, I extend our gratitude to you, General Caslen, for hosting this solemn occasion.

Of course, we would not be celebrating this particular induction were it not for the Hall of Fame Board of Governors’ decision to select our father for this much-deserved tribute.

Also, I wish to acknowledge the crucial first step in the nomination process which Dr. James H. Willbanks, Director, Department of Military History and, now, George C. Marshall Chair for Military History, assumed unhesitatingly. Thank you, Jim.

For several years, Carol and I debated what to do with the actual Medal of Honor in our possession. I remained reluctant to give it up to a public display... that is until a year ago when I walked in to this Hall of Fame. Simple yet elegant... majestic yet inviting... it is a handsome tribute to hundreds of Americans whose sacrifices, including at times life itself, helped make and keep our great country safe.

One of the most outstanding members of this elite fraternity is COL [Ret.] Roger Hugh C. Donlon who was the first man to receive the Medal Of Honor in Vietnam, as well as the first member of the United States Army Special Forces so honored. COL Donlon: We salute you.

Now our father’s story can be kept alive, not by chance or by occasional publicity but rather by its own inherent power to touch, move and inspire so many soldiers and leaders, present as well as future, in the United States Army that he loved so much.

I also wish to express my deep gratitude to Richard B Frank, who has graced us with his presence. Award-winning author and preeminent WWII historian, Rich has given me encouragement to give shape to and share what he has called “the tremendous story” of my father and mother in their finest moment. In his book, ‘Guadalcanal; The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle” he included a sentence that vividly brought to life my father’s heroic encounter with the enemy: “This sequence of gestures took place in full view of the Japanese and his battalion, for the sky perfectly silhouetted Davis on the ridge top. “

Hero: “A person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.” One of my father’s “noble qualities” that surely kept him alive that fateful morning is reflected in the following adage: "Wisdom is knowing what to do next: virtue is doing it."

- - David Starr Jordan

Hero: COL Charles W. Davis... aka “The Hero of Galloping Horse” His actions as a warrior have been and continue to be the subject of many a thorough accounting; but what about Charles Davis the man? What about his humanity? This is the side I would come to know well but I would learn about the hero solely from books.

Humanity. - the quality or condition of being human; human nature itself. - the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.

2

This is the father I knew... a humane, kind and benevolent man, in many ways, the personification of human nature itself if for no other reason than his great capacity for enjoying life... A man who wore his uniform comfortably... who left his rank at the office when he arrived home... who rarely spoke ill of anyone... who treated the common man and the dignitary with exceptional and equal civility... who throughout his lifetime took far less from others than he gave them.

What I cannot tell you is what he was like 67 years ago. But help is on the way.

It is the historian’s good fortune that Mother archived over ninety letters Dad sent from Hawaii and Guadalcanal in 1942 and 1943. They reveal many of the ordinary struggles in life that most newly married couples confronted in WWII especially those living worlds apart. They also expose the powerful, intimate bond of love Dad recreated over and over in the written word, I suspect, to mentally erase the vast physical distance separating them. Above all, they provide us with a rare glimpse into one man’s heart full of virtue, honor and valor.

Then, there are the voices of men from the South Pacific who served with him in the 27 th Infantry three of whom recently shed light on the character of the 26 year-old Charles W Davis.

Clarence Irvin – Hawaii ‘42 Dad’s Executive Officer in G Company 27 th Inf

“We were going on exercises in the mountains, we had a problem one day, and General Collins—brand new—was coming to see us operate. And so Davis had the guys put cork-things on their faces and straw in their helmets, which nobody had done before, and we did this thing and the General was absolutely, completely happy. .... the General liked it so much he came back and made him the battalion executive officer. Moved the battalion executive officer out and made him the battalion executive officer and he was the youngest [captain] in the entire regiment! “

3

2. Keith Hook / Dad’s Intelligence Officer on New Georgia in the 3d BN 27 th Inf

“Your father was very modest despite the fact that ‘everybody knew Charlie.’... He was a [fine?] soldier and officer—he inspired confidence and we knew what we were doing. He never put on airs and was modest and treated his men with respect. My father lived and taught me to never ask anyone to do anything you would not do yourself—and Charlie lived by that too.”

4

In his memoirs, Keith writes: “We established our Battalion Headquarters so we could face and look out through the brush to Vila, on the other side of Brackett Straits. ... there were only three of us in it at the time: the Battalion Commander, the Chaplain and myself. That was the Headquarters. The Japanese got to the top of the ridge, placed their machine guns and were firing at us. There was a huge tree trunk lying on its side, which was about 3 feet off the ground. We were behind that. And the machine gun bullets were hitting the topside of the trunk. I was shaking and trying to stay calm I would say to myself ‘Goddammit, Hook, get hold of yourself.’ Then I figured I’d look to Chaplain Mackerel [Nickname: Holy Mackerel], he’ll give me inspiration. So I looked over to the Chaplain, and he didn’t give me inspiration because he was shaking like that too. His position fascinated me, because he had his head down and his butt up in the air. And I thought that was kind of dumb. So I figured, well, Colonel Charles Davis, the battalion commander, he’ll give me inspiration. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for leading an attack on the Japanese on Guadalcanal. And so I looked over at him, and he was shaking like that too. And I said to myself, Oh well, hell, forget it and just shake away. Fortunately, the attack was broken off, so we never got hit.”

Willard Dominick, Sergeant HQ company 2nd Battalion

“Your father was the most congenial, down-to-earth individual with a very solid personality. He had a remarkable calmness, self-assurance and friendliness. I knew no one that did not like him. 

He was strong, handsome, and a perfect physical specimen in every way. He was a beautiful man and had a beautiful personality and a beautiful soul.

He treated the lowest private as an equal; he was gracious, an inspiration to everyone; he was like a buddy who conveyed an intimate feeling of camaraderie.”

5

Revis Burkhalter, L Company 3 Bn 27 th Infantry

“All us soldiers hugging the ground would look up at your glorious father and see his gold oak leaves shining on his collar, walking up and down as the Jap grenades landed all around us showering rocks and dirt, yelling "bad names" at us asking "are you gonna just lie there and die or are you gonna get up and fight???!!!"Your father was a soldier. He lived [for] the war. He was not a timid man. He was a Rambo with a gun in his hand.”

Rest assured, there is undoubtedly another much softer side to this “Rambo”... as revealed in over ninety emotion-charged letters that Dad sent from the South Pacific to my mother, his “darling Joan”.

6

First, here are a few excerpts concerning his pride in the Army, its fighting soldier, and his own devotion to duty:

January 28, 1943: I am now a Major in the Army of the United States and a grand army it is too- Yes, darling, I am so proud and happy... January 30, 1943: I am perfectly contented in my work and missing you is the only drawback to the whole thing... February 5, 1943: My darling—I would give any material thing I possess to be with you ...but then again I think of the duty and trust that has been placed in these fine boys overseas... and then I know it is my place here and that’s all there is to it... Feb 18, 1943: I have everything I need- a fine, beautiful wife- a lovely daughter ... and a clear conscience that I am serving my country when it counts. April 4 th , 1943: I must write you again my darling to give you some wonderful news.. your husband has been made commander of the 3d Battallion of the 27th Infantry and will mean that I will soon be made a Lt. Colonel.... the promotion isn’t the big thing, although it is nice, it is the fact that I am in a position to shoulder a larger responsibility and probably do more for my country, which I feel I am indebted to. July 28, 1943: ... I can hardly realize I am to receive the country’s highest award and sometimes wonder as to my deserving it... I will probably be wearing the “un slickest” uniform of any man ever to receive this award but that doesn’t matter as long as it is the uniform of my country—that’s all that matters...”

7

Two additional remaining elements will complete my human portrait of Charles W Davis. First, his towering love and devotion for his “darling Joan” expressed so passionately in each and every one of his letters.

March 13, 1943

He has sent Mother “the greatest news that any soldier has ever written home to a beautiful girl that is waiting for him...” his recommendation for the Congressional Medal of Honor. The letter closes: “ My sweet, look at me as you closely hold our most dear possession and tell me that you love me and that you are always pulling for me which I know you are. I am yours forever and set my goal to act, be, and do as you and Carol would want me to. To me, you are my complete life and without you there is a very large vacant spot that cannot be filled until I am with you again. All my love to you, Joan, my first and only love, forever and ever... Charles.”

And second, the love of a mother for a son serving in the war:

8

In February, 1943 my grandmother, “Mama Davis,” wrote the following poem:

Thanks, Dad... For everything.

9

10

11