Corporal Edward Tatum Davis
United States Army, World War I – Wounded in Action
Company E, 28 Infantry Regiment, First Division
©By Larry Hume, VFW Post 8904, Center, Texas
July 9, 2026 - Edward Tatum, known as “Eddie,” to family and friends, was born on September 11, 1898 to Julia Savannah “Vannie” Warr and John Tatum Davis in the far east Texas town of Center that serves as the county seat of Shelby. The oldest of five children, his siblings were Bessie (1901), Jimmie (1904), Elco (1906), and J. T. (1908). They lived on a farm that their father rented and worked in Shelby County until his sudden death in 1908 at the early age of 28. Following his death, the family moved and resided on First Street in Center where Eddie attended school.
At the age of 18, Eddie voluntarily enlisted in the Regular Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on March 1, 1917, where he was assigned to Company E, 37 Infantry Regiment at Fort McIntosh, Laredo, Webb County, Texas. His unit was responsible for helping patrol the Mexican border during the time of Pancho Villa. One month following his enlistment, the United States entered the World War on April 6, a war that had been raging in Europe since 1914. On May 29, Eddie was reassigned to Company E, 28 Infantry Regiment at Camp Ringgold, Starr County, Texas that had also been assigned to patrol the Mexican border. The 28 Regiment joined the 2 Infantry Brigade of the 1 Division (later to be known as the Big Red One), which had been organized in June 1917, from other Mexican border units.
Eddie and the 28 Regiment were among the first of the division to sail from Hoboken, New Jersey, departing on June 13, 1917, and disembarking at St. Nazaire, France thirteen days later. They were then sent to the commune of Gondecourt in the Nord department of northern France for training. The division entered the line on October 21, 1917, and fired the first American shot of the war twelve days later. The twenty-eighth saw combat service with the First Division in the Sommerviller sector, the Ansauville sector, the Cantigny sector, the Montdidier-Noyon defensive, the Aisne-Marne offensive, the Saizerais sector, the St. Mihiel offensive and the Meuse-Argonne offensive that ended the war on November 11, 1918. During operations, the division took 6,661 prisoners and suffered 26,332 casualties. Private Edward Davis was one of those casualties being severely wounded in action on July 21, 1918.
Mail to and from home was always a huge morale booster for the soldier and family alike. Many times, the family would share the letters they received with the local newspaper for publication. The Champion Newspaper of Center, Shelby County, Texas published three that Eddie had written to his mother in 1918.
Champion publication date of July 10, 1918: “It’s quite right about France being shot up, but only in range of the enemy’s guns. You wouldn’t believe what has been done in this war unless you could see it. You just ought to see the small towns just behind the lines they are all shot down, nothing left but parts of the old stone walls and big piles of rocks here and there where shells have bursted. It is an awful sight, but it isn’t so awful bad over here. Just like going to a movie. I have had several letters from you and also a cake since I wrote you. You don’t know how glad I was of the cake. Mother tell everybody howdy for me. Will write more next time. Answer real soon and please do not be worried if you don’t hear from me often. I will write as often as possible.”
Champion publication date of September 11, 1918: “A report gained circulation here latter part of last week that Eddie Davis, volunteer from Center, had been killed in action in France. The report however, proved to be a false alarm. His mother, Mrs. Tatum David, received a letter from him Sunday, which stated that he was about recovered from his recent wound and that he would soon be ready to go back to the fighting. The friends here will be glad to know that the report of his death proved to be untrue.”
Champion publication date of September 18, 1918: “Dear Mother – will write you a few lines this afternoon as I am idle. This leaves me fine and trust it will find you the same. How is everybody in old Center now? Mother, I sure am proud of old Texas for what she is doing in this war, and I’m sure glad that I am able to do my part like a man in this great struggle.”
Following the armistice, his division was assigned to the Army of Occupation and crossed into Germany on December 5, 1918. Eddie however, due to his injuries, returned to the United States with Casual Company # 310 aboard the US Navy transport USS Leviathan, arriving at the port of New York on December 16, 1918 with 8,870 sick and wounded soldiers. They were then transported to nearby Army hospitals, Eddie going to Camp Merritt, New Jersey. He remained there until physically fit for discharge that happened on February 17, 1919 with a twenty percent disability.
After the war, he and Miss Clora Rae Ricks were married and the 1920 census noted they were living in Precinct 7, Brazos, Texas. The year 1920 also brought tragedy to the family when eleven-year-old brother, J. T. was killed in a shot-gun accident in January. The Champion Newspaper, Center, Texas, June 2, 1920 reported Eddie had received from the Division Commander, War Department a citation for gallantry in action and especially meritorious service [documentation could not be found]. This article also noted he had been training as an automobile mechanic at the E. I. Bruce Garage.
His training paid off as a decade later he and Clora were living on West Laurel Street in San Antonio, Texas, where he was employed as an auto mechanic. On February 16, 1942, Eddie registered for the military draft while living in Greens Gap, Catron County, New Mexico, and while not called to serve he would see a second world war begin and end in his lifetime. Clora died at the age of 45 on November 12, 1945, and was buried in Pollok, Angelina County, Texas. Later he married Nina Mae Elliott Crawford.
Eddie and Nina Mae lived in rural Panola County near Tatum, Texas, when on August 25, 1971, he was involved in an automobile accident while traveling alone on Highway 59 north of Carthage. He was taken to Panola General Hospital in Carthage where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Eddie was buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Center, Shelby County, Texas with his parents and four siblings. His wife Nina would join him there in 1971. Day is done, God is nigh.
Sources:
(1): Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 1, Shelby, Texas; Roll: 1669; Page: 22; Enumeration District: 0084; FHL microfilm: 1241669
(2): Year: 1910; Census Place: Center, Shelby, Texas; Roll: T624_1588; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0146; FHL microfilm: 1375601
(3): "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MN-ZS6H-H?cc=2202707&wc=3... : 26 March 2015), Enlisted men, wounded > Aaron, Grady H-Depine, Joe, 1917-1920 > image 3174 of 3347; Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
(4): The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 146
(5): Year: 1920; Census Place: Justice Precinct 7, Brazos, Texas; Roll: T625_1781; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 12
(6): Year: 1930; Census Place: San Antonio, Bexar, Texas; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0075; FHL microfilm: 2342028
(7): National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for New Mexico, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 30
(8): Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA
