Norvin L. Davis (service #O-025765) was born on 8 July 1921 in Elko, Elko County, Nevada. His father was Thomas Leslie Davis (who went by “Leslie” or “T.L.”), a Texas native, who was a salesman in the grocery industry and a businessman. His mother, Leah Irene (Schrader) Davis, was born in Iowa and dedicated herself to being a homemaker. Norvin had one younger sister named Irene M. Davis.

Norvin grew up in Wells, Elko County, Nevada, and attended local schools. He was truly an amazing young man, who garnered dozens and dozens of mentions in Nevada newspapers. As a young boy, he actively participated in Boy Scouts.

Norvin attended Wells High School where he was a “big man on campus.” He was vice president of the freshman class. He was on the honor roll or high honor roll every semester. Norvin played the lead role in the junior class play, “Romance in a Boarding House,” and played a supporting role in the senior class play, “The Valley of the Ghosts.” Musically, he played the violin (and sometimes the drums) in the school orchestra and was often mentioned as having provided musical numbers for local events. He was the “joke editor” of the yearbook, indicating a good sense of humor.

During his junior year, Norvin served as student body vice president. The next year, he served as senior class president and gave the salutatorian address at graduation in May 1938. Days later, Norvin won the Memorial Day essay contest with the theme of “The Unknown Soldier.” He couldn’t have known then that, in a few short years, he would give the same ultimate sacrifice as the enigmatic Unknown Soldier.

After high school, Norvin spent a year in Long Beach, California, where he attended Rutherford Preparatory School to prepare for the military academy entrance examinations. Only a few weeks before the tests, Norvin suffered a leg injury, contracted blood poisoning, and had to have surgery. The doctor advised him to remain in the hospital, but he left his sick bed and took the rigorous entrance examinations, passing with flying colors. He was given his choice of the U.S. Army’s Military Academy at Westpoint or the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He chose Westpoint.

Because of the war, Norvin’s education at Westpoint was slightly accelerated, and he received his B.S. in January 1943, with his proud parents and sister in the audience. During his time at Westpoint, Norvin was actively involved in a number of clubs and activities at the school. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

2LT Davis trained with the Army paratroopers at Fort Benning, Georgia, and Camp Polk, Louisiana. In May 1943, he received a rank advancement to First Lieutenant. In due course, he was assigned to serve with the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division. Along with the regiment, Lt Davis underwent intense and rigorous training in airborne operations, focusing on parachute jumps, combat tactics, and infantry skills—designed to prepare them (and him) for airborne operations in the Pacific Theater.

Deploying overseas, the 511th participated in the Leyte and Luzon campaigns in the Philippines. On 18 November 1944, Lt Davis and the 511th conducted a successful combat jump near the town of Tacloban, securing the tactically important Tacloban airfield for the Allies. In the ensuing fighting, in December 1944, Lt Davis was shot in the leg by a Japanese machine gun. He marched for five hours before he realized he was carrying the slug. And, two days after its removal, he had to march for 10 hours before he could heal for a time in a military hospital. For his bravery, and having distinguished himself in battle, Lt Davis was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

At the time of his wounding in Leyte, Lt Davis’s life was saved by Private Elmer E. Fryar (see https://www.fold3.com/memorial/529954977/elmer-e-fryar), an enlisted soldier under Lt Davis’s command. According to Lt Davis, he (Davis) was attending to a wounded man and did not see an enemy automatic rifleman who had jumped out from behind a bush. Pvt Fryer, who had already shot 27 enemy soldiers in the fray, saw that his officer was in trouble, jumped in front of Lt Davis, and was hit with seven bullets, but he simultaneously pulled the pin on a grenade and threw it toward the enemy, killing several more enemy soldiers, and clearing the way for Lt Davis to escape. For his courage, sacrifice, and valor, the President of the United States posthumously awarded Pvt Fryar the Congressional Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest military award for bravery. Pvt Fryar was a true hero, but it also says something about Lt Davis that a private in his command would have the love and loyalty to give his life to protect him.

Healed from his wound, in February 1945, Lt Davis and the 511th executed a daring airdrop onto Tagaytay Ridge on the Island of Luzon. Their mission (which was successful) was to cut off Japanese reinforcements from reaching Manila, assisting the American forces in liberating the city. The fighting continued in Luzon, and tragically, Lt Davis was killed in action on 22 April 1945 at Batangas Province, Calabarzon, Luzon, Philippines. I was unable to find details surrounding his death.

The sad news was conveyed to Norvin’s parents and sister. His body was buried in the Philippines. At the request of his family, Norvin’s body was repatriated to the United States for burial at the family’s plot at the Linn Grove Cemetery (Block 14 Lot 42 Space 5) in Greeley, Colorado. Graveside services honoring the life of Lt Norvin L. Davis were held on 26 February 1949. In the military escort was Lt Rathburn, a member of the 11th Airborne Division, Norvin’s company. Norvin was survived by his parents, T.L. and Leah Davis, and his sister, Irene Gregory.

Thank you, Norvin, for your excellent life and heroic service to our country.

(Note: I was unable to find out what the middle initial “L” stood for in the name Norvin L. Davis. I suspect it was his father’s middle name, Leslie.)

Sources:

Find A Grave Index

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65218825/norvin-leslie-davis

U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/918291:2375

1930 U.S. Federal Census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/107858738:6224

1940 U.S. Federal Census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8207460:2442

U.S. Select Military Registers

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2171089:2345?tid=&pid=&queryId=964cba0b1aa3bf7b16e047fac3580e02&_phsrc=rpQ13260&_phstart=successSource

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Norvin L Davis