This story is about Ward Arthur Davis (shown in his World War I uniform), a founding member of James O. Hall Post 19 of the American Legion, Department of Louisiana. He signed the Application for Post of American Legion on September 24, 1919. The Application was approved on October 10, 1919, which is considered the founding day of the Post.
Ward was born on December 17, 1901. Ward is a veteran of both World War I and World War II. The Americans joined in declaring war on Germany in World War I on April of 1917, and Ward would have been 17 when he joined the Army. He shipped to France and was a “Doughboy” in the “War to End All Wars.” While in combat he was exposed to some gas in the trenches and sustained some lung damage. Ward served in the U. S. Army from June 15, 1918 until August 5, 1919.
After his World War I service he married May Holmes Davis. They have four children: Marjorie, Dorothy, Elgie and Herbert. Between the wars Ward worked as an electrician, machinist and shop foreman. In the 1930’s he and his family resided in Los Angeles, California.
In addition to being a founding member of James O. Hall Post 19 of the American Legion, Ward was the Post Commander from 1939 to 1940.
Ward volunteered for service in World War II and served from December 15 1942 to December 11, 1945. He was a mechanic, and he rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. He was assigned to the European Theater of Operations and served in General George Patton’s Third Army. He was exposed to the harsh winter of 1944-45, when the 3rd Army broke through and relieved the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and Ward suffered some frostbite to his face during those operations.
After World War II he returned to Jennings and continued his career in the maintenance field. He was truly a jack-of-all-trades. He worked for some time at the Evangeline Refinery, located along Bayou Nezpique just off Louisiana Highway 97 in Acadia Parish. Ward died on January 6, 1969. He is interred at Greenwood Cemetary in Jennings. Ward’s grandson Charlie Williams, and wife Dana, and granddaughter Connie Davis Hebert, and husband Keith, all reside in Jennings.
