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Sgt. Ethan Davis, US Army of Huntsville was among the soldiers who were part of the D-Day, Utah Beach, Normandy invasion. Sgt. Davis died in France on July 10, 1944 of wounds he recieved during that invasion.
Davis was born April 9, 1920 in Campbell County, Tennessee and was the son of William Thomas and Mary Ann (Childress) Davis. His brothers and sisters were Edna Mae James, June Chambers, Jewell Dean Babb and Arlie Davis.
He married Evelyn Douglas, August 8, 1943 at Baltimore, Maryland. They had one child, a son named Ethan Sam Davis born May 19, 1944.
Sgt. Davis entered the service in January, 1943 at Jacksboro, then completed his basic training at Camp Gordon on Georgia February 3, 1943. He was a member of Co. G, 2nd Btn, 8th Inf. and went overseas in November of 1943. His body was shipped home and a funeral service was held in the Huntsville High School’s auditorium due to the number of people wanting to attend the funeral. He was buried in the Hazel Valley Cemetery in Oneida.
(Submitted by his son E. Sam Davis)
PFC. Robert W. Hall, KIA, Belgium WWII
Robert W. Hall was born April 8, 1919 and was the son of Gilbert H. and Livie (Garland) Hall, Sr. He had three siblings; Lucille, Iva Olene and Calvin. He grew up in the Stanley Creek area of Scott County.
Message dated December 15, 1944 from Capt. Edgar J. Albrick, Commanding Officer 135th Infantry.
Mr. Gilbert H. Hall, With great regret, I notify you of the passing of your son. Private First Class Robert W. Hall was seriously wounded while engaged in a particularly hazardous undertaking on November 30, 1944 in Western Germany. During the course of our participation in this hazardous mission, heavy enemy fire was encountered and the successful execution of our mission was endangered. Your son, Private First Class, Hall, by his heroic actions on this occasion contributed materially to the successful execution of our mission, and in doing so, was seriously wounded. Private First Class Hall, died the following day December 1, 1944 and was buried in our Army Cemetery in Holland.
PFC, Robert W. Hall was brought back to Scott County and buried in the Owens Posey Cemetery in Scott County, Tennessee.
West brothers, KIA returned from overseas
Two sons of Mr and Mrs H. Clayb West was brought home and layed to rest in the Reed Cemetery in Scott County, Tennessee.
Clarence B. West was born October 1, 1922 was with the 391 Field Artillary Battalion, 3rd Armoured Division, was involved in the Allied invasion of Normandy and was killed in action while engaged in battle at Falaise Gap while fighting the Seventh German Army on August 9, 1944.
Ray West was born October 25, 1919 and was also with the 391 Field Artillary Battalion, 3rd Armoured Division, was with the allies during the Normandy invasion and with the 3rd AD commanded by Major General Maurice Rose pushed through the German lines. Pvt. West, was killed in action near the city of Paderburn on the same day as Maj. Gen. Maurice Rose on Mach 30, 1945.
Clarence and Ray had two brothers; Claude and Kenneth and a sister, Evelyn.
2nd Lt. James Crabtree, Sr. Shot down over Holland
James Crabtree, Sr. Was a Navigator on a B-17 airplane with the 369th Bomber Squadron from the 306th heavy Bombardment Group, based in Thurleigh, England. They departed on a heavy bombing mission and were attacked by a group of FW-190’s and had their tailplane was shot off. they crashed near Diepenveen in the Netherlands.
2nd Lt. James Crabtree and 8 other crewmen were killed in action and one crewman was taken prisoner of war. Jamuary 11, 1944.
Lt. Ralph W. Cook, awarded Silver Star
Lt. Ralph W. Cook was born November 4, 1911 in Scott County, Tennessee was the son of Mrs, Novella Cook. He was married to Flora (Easton) Cook.
Citation reads; (for actions previous to his death.)”The President of
the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunner, Ralph W. Cook, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while attached to the Minesweeper U.S.S. Pigeon (AM-47), during
a Japanese aerial attack in the Philippine Islands on December 10 1941. Gu·nner Cook assisted in the work of towing a submarine to safety and the clearing of the docks of the Cavite Navy Yard of navy vessels and yard craft. His gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty without regard for his own safety, were in keeping with the highest regards of the United States Naval traditions.”
SFC, Hollis F. Bell, USS Scorpion; Lost at Sea
Hollis F. Bell was born in the Foster Crossroads community of Scott County on November 22, 1923. He was the son of WWI Veteran, Tyree and wife Ellen Bell. Hollis volunteered for the US Navy and was assigned to the submarine, USS Scorpion. The Scorpion was launched July 20, 1942 and its first mission was a hunting and mining mission near Honshu in April 1943. She laid 22 mines off the coast, then commenced a search for enemy shipping, which would prove devastating for Japan.
Scorpion fiercely assaulted enemy vessels in a series of submerged torpedo attacks and surface gun battles. She sank two freighters, four sampans and two patrol vessels. In her next patrols she inflicted even more damage on enemy shipping, each of these patrols earned her a battle star.
SFC. Hollis F. Bell was killed in action with all hands on board the USS Scorpion between January and March 1944. The USS Scorpion departed Pearl Harbor on December 29, 1943. Scorpion stopped off at Midway to top off with fuel and departed January 3, 1944 to conduct her fourth war patrol. On January 5, 1944 she attempted a transfer of an injured crew member, heavy seas prevented the transfer, and Scorpion continued west to her assigned area which was in the Northeastern China and Yellow Seas and was not heard from . She was
declared lost on March 6, 1944 with 77 officers and men.
Hollis F. Bell is memorialized in the Manila American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines. The inscription on his tombstone reads; “He lived in honor, Beloved by all who knew him, he died for his country and will never be forgotten.”