 Courtesy Tony W. Davis |
Remember...Clellan Clayton Davis
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Clellan Clayton Davis was born in Kettle, Roane County, West Virginia, on March 29, 1924, to Romie "Rome" Davis and Macie Taylor Davis. Clellan had two brothers (Clifford and Harold; Harold died at birth), and six sisters (Betty Davis, Ellen Davis Ballard, Marieda Davis Paxton, Shirley Davis King, Juanita "Wanda" Davis Whitt, and Wilma Davis Angle).
Clellan attended school in Kettle, Roane County, until the eighth grade. When he was old enough to join, Clellan joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked in C.C. camps before enlisting in the U.S. Army.
| Pfc. Clellan Clayton Davis was killed in action, in France, February 23, 1945. He was serving with Company G, 324th Infantry, of General Patch's Seventh Army and was killed by fire from enemy machine guns as a member of a night raiding party. It is said that he volunteered to take out a machine gun battery. There is some question whether he was killed in France or Germany. It seems likely he was killed in the easternmost region of France, very near the border with Germany. Clellan was originally buried in a U.S. military cemetery in eastern France until his remains were brought back home to be buried at the Billy Hunt Cemetery, Kettle, West Virginia. |  Pfc. Clellan Davis (left) and a comrade-in-arms. Courtesy Tony W. Davis |
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Pfc. Clellan Davis was recognized for his sacrifice by two American presidents. |
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 One of Pfc. Clellan Davis's Purple Hearts. Courtesy Tony W. Davis |
Clellan Clayton Davis received two Purple Hearts. |
Of the eight children born to Rome and Macie Davis, only two survive as of this writing. Clifford and Marieda were very young at the time of Clellan's death and do not remember him well. However, Marieda does remember his coming home on leave one time and bringing her a doll.
Article prepared by Tony W. Davis, Clifford's son and nephew of Pfc. Clellan Clayton Davis
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
