WWII Photos:
William J. Davis
William Davis was one of the original members of Company A, First Battalion, 24th Marines. Possessed of an administrative mind, the youth from Girard, Ohio was assigned to clerical duty in the captain’s office. Davis saw action on Saipan, where he was wounded, and on Iwo Jima.
The photographs in this collection are courtesy of Les Best.
- Served With: Able Company
- Collection Timeline: 1943 – 1945
- Locations: Camp Pendleton, Camp Maui, Iwo Jima
Civilian Bill Davis, date unknown.
Private Davis in uniform. Likely taken in early 1943.
Bill Davis with a pipe at Camp Pendleton, California. 1943.
A view out the barracks window at Camp Pendleton, 1943.
A marching column passes by the barracks at Camp Pendleton.
A group of Able Company Marines at the Camp Pendleton swimming pool, 1943.
Company carpenter Raymond Davis (no known relation). Raymond was badly wounded at the battle of Namur.
"Don" – full name unknown – and Raymond Davis at Camp Pendleton.
An unnamed corporal, presumably a member of A/1/24th Marines.
Bill Davis outside the company First Sergeant's tent at Camp Maui. As a clerk, he spent a good deal of time working in this office.
"Tojo" was an English bulldog brought back from the battle of Namur. He was the unofficial company mascot in the spring of 1944.
Kenneth Shea, Philip Wood, and Tom Johnson at Camp Maui. The kimonos were "souvenirs" of Namur.
Bill Davis receives his Purple Heart for wounds suffered in the battle of Saipan. The presentation took place on 29 September 1944.
Bill Davis outside a tent at Camp Maui.
Oscar "Buddy" Hanson, an A/1/24 NCO, at Camp Maui.
Bill Davis (center) with pals Hal Fritz and Robert Larson.
Senior NCOs of Company A: Walter Russell, Thomas Drake, Stephen Vinczi.
This photo of Able Company after the battle of Iwo Jima was widely distributed – but few veterans had the clerical thoroughness to add a typed key to the back.
Able Company headquarters at Camp Maui, 1945. Davis again added typed notes to the back of his photo.
Bill Davis at home after the war.
Bill Davis, a civilian once again. Date unknown.