Charles Dinsmore Davis
Charles Dinsmore Davis (1892-1980) was an American Army Officer and local politician. He served in the U.S. 321st Infantry during World War I where he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for his bravery and later served three terms on the City Council in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Biography
Early Life
Chas was born in Van Buren County, Arkansas to William Thomas and Sarah Leonard Davis and attended school in Clinton, Arkansas.
World War I
Chas served as an American Sergeant in Company F of the 321st Infantry, 81st Division, where he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for his bravery into No man's land:[1]
Sergeant Charles D. Davis, who acted as a liaison runner between the Second Battalion and the French Division on the left, reaching his destination by passing through 'No Man's Land' between two companies of the 322nd Infantry and the enemy, and bringing back to his battalion commander accurate advice of the situation not only of the French troops, but of the companies of the 322nd Infantry and of the companies of his own battalion.[2]
Letters Home During the War
November 12th, 1918 - From France
Immediately following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, he captured the sentiment of the troops in a letter to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
| “ | Dear People,
Well this is the first day after peace. Of course, it is needless to say that all we boys are tickled half-to-death. We have been hitting it pretty hard. Of course, I haven't written you about it, but we have been doing some hard fighting. Think I have been extremely lucky in not being hit or killed. We drove the Germans back 3 1/4 miles yesterday from daylight to 11 o'clock, when everything ceased. We were very close to the Germans when we got orders to cease firing. They quit at the same time. Those Huns were the proudest men I ever saw. They threw down their guns and came up to us crying, "Kamerad," and then asking for cigarettes. Our division, the 81st, or Wild Cat, as it is called, was put up against Germany's best - the Prussian Guards. We were in the Verdun-Metz drive that started the 9th. Will tell you more interesting things when I get back. Now that brings about the question - when will I be home. There has not been anything said about that yet. Of course there are lots of things to see after and lots of papers to fix up. It will be some months yet before many troops arrive back in the states. I would have wired you people yesterday just as soon as it was signed, but I was not near a station. Guess they did some celebrating in the states. All during the night the government sent up all kinds of fireworks of red, white and blue. Will not be so long in writing you hereafter, but I have been entirely too busy to write for some time. Didn't have time to eat or sleep a part of the time. Since it is all over I think Sherman was right when he said "War is Hell". Yours, Sergt. Chas. Davis, Co. F, 321 Inft, American E.F., France. |
” |
| — Charles Dinsmore Davis, letter to Arkansas Democrat Gazette | ||
Career & Politics
Chas served as Fourth Ward Alderman for seven years on the Little Rock City Council. As Chairman of the council's finance committee, Chas also served as a member of the City Planning Commission.
References
This article "Charles Dinsmore Davis" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Charles Dinsmore Davis. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
