The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Davis. In the California State Military Reserve, Davis kept watch over the Central Valley, home to many Japanese-American farmers. Having worked with the phone company, he hoped to become a Signal Corps officer, but was not content to wait. He joined the Marine Corps in 1942, becoming a drill instructor. He then joined the V Amphibious Corps in 1943 as an NCO in command of 200 corpsmen. Departing for Hawaii, he was court-martialed for leaving the ship to bid his wife farewell. His rank reduced to private, he was sentenced to 20 days in the brig, which he served in the brig sergeant’s quarters, playing cards with him. At Pearl Harbor, Davis guarded the headquarters, saluting FDR when he arrived. Davis transferred to a salvage platoon on Kwajalein, fighting fires and routinely encountering delay-action bombs. He transferred to Saipan with the 6th Field Depot, later reorganized as the 7th Service Regiment, sighting several Japanese holdouts. He drove a DUKW in the initial assault on Okinawa. After a stint in Tianjin, Davis returned to the States and was discharged in early 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Eugene Davis. In the California State Military Reserve, Davis kept watch over the Central Valley, home to many Japanese-American farmers. Having worked with the phone company, he hoped to become a Signal Corps officer, but was not content to wait. He joined the Marine Corps in 1942, becoming a drill instructor. He then joined the V Amphibious Corps in 1943 as an NCO in command of 200 corpsmen. Departing for Hawaii, he was court-martialed for leaving the ship to bid his wife farewell. His rank reduced to private, he was sentenced to 20 days in the brig, which he served in the brig sergeant’s quarters, playing cards with him. At Pearl Harbor, Davis guarded the headquarters, saluting FDR when he arrived. Davis transferred to a salvage platoon on Kwajalein, fighting fires and routinely encountering delay-action bombs. He transferred to Saipan with the 6th Field Depot, later reorganized as the 7th Service Regiment, sighting several Japanese holdouts. He drove a DUKW in the initial assault on Okinawa. After a stint in Tianjin, Davis returned to the States and was discharged in early 1946.