Ward Arthur Davis, one of the founding members of James O. Hall Post 19 of the American Legion-Department of Louisiana, was born on December 17, 1901 in Jennings, LA. He is a veteran of World War I (see timeline article dated August 5, 1919). Even though Ward had previously served in the armed forces of the United States during war, he volunteered to serve in the United States Army on December 15, 1942. He was a skilled mechanic who rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in the Army. The photo shows Ward (right) with Lieutenant Alfred Saunders (left) during their wartime service together in Europe. Ward deployed to Europe on September 14, 1943 and returned to the United States on October 16, 1945. He served with the 3rd Armored Division, a subordinate unit of the Third Army under General George Patton. Upon his return to the United States Ward was discharged from the Army on December 11, 1945. For his time in military service Ward was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with five bronze stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.
