John Fuller Davis (1892 - 1978)

Born 2 May 1892 in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia

Ancestors

Husband of Aileen (White) Davis — married 3 Jun 1916 in Austin, Travis County, Texas

Died 7 Jul 1978 at age 86 in Washington, District of Columbia

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Biography

Name: Brig. Gen. John Fuller Davis.^[1][2][3]

Technically, he was a "Jr.," but because his father had died when he was so young, he never used the suffix.

Born: 2 May 1892 Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia.^[1][2][3]

Education: 1915 West Point, Orange County, New York.
Attended Texas A&M for three years (under the influence of his stepfather, James C. Nagle, Dead of the School of Engineering) before entering the U.S. Military Academy in 1911 and graduating in the Class of 1915.

Military: 1915-1952.
After graduating from USMA, he chose the Cavalry because of his love of horses (he had played polo at the Academy). His first assignment was with the 3rd Cavalry on the Mexican border at Mission, where he also met Aileen White.
     The 3rd Cavalry was sent to France in October 1917. After the Armistice, he was posted to Cambridge University on temporary duty, where he made numerous contacts among future British Army officers.
     On his return to the U.S. in 1919, he was assigned to the 13th Cavalry in Texas and was appointed to the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Texas A&M, where he was senior cavalry instructor.
     In 1925, he was posted to the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He then had a brief tour at Fort Riley but was recalled to the Command School as an instructor.
     In 1930, he attended the Army War College in Washington, after which he served for three years on the General Staff in the War Dept. In 1934, he took command of the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry at Fort Myer, Virginia.
     In 1935, he was chief of the U.S. military mission to Guatemala (where he held the temporary rank of brigadier in the Guatemalan army). In 1937, he returned to the U.S. as Operations & Training Officer with the 1st Cavalry, and later with the 7th Cavalry, where he was instrumental in mechanization of the cavalry.
     He was Asst. Chief of Staff of II Corps, 1939-1941, then commanded the 1st Armored Regt of the 1st Armored Division. After Pearl Harbor, he was due to go overseas buy was prevented by an illness, so he became Chief of Staff of the 6th Service Command in Chicago..
     From 1944 until his retirement in 1952, he served in various capacities on the War Department staff at the Pentagon, on General Mac Arthur’s staff in Tokyo, at Fort Knox, and in the District of Columbia Military District.
     His decorations included the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster. In 1946 he received an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) from Texas A&M. Both his sons were USMA graduates and career Army officers.

Married: Aileen White, 3 Jun 1916 Austin, Travis County, Texas.^[4]
(3 children, 1 died young)

Passenger List: 16 May 1937 New York, New York.^[5]
SS Santa Elena, sailing from San Jose de Guatemala, 7 May 1937, arriving New York, 18 May 1937.
Line 1: Davis, John Age: 45 yrs (b. 2 May 1892 Augusta Ga.) Address: c/o Adjutant Gen'l, Wash., D.C.
Line 2: Davis, Aileen Age: 43 yrs (b. 11 Jan 1894 Austin, Texas) Address: 212 Pershing Ave, San Antonio
Line 3: Davis, William Age 9 yrs (b. 24 Feb 1928 Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.) Address: 212 Pershing Ave, San Antonio

Died: 17 Jul 1978 Washington, District of Columbia.^[1][2][3]

Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.^[1]

For earlier census listings, see his mother's & stepfather's profiles.

Census 1920
Fort Riley, Geary County, Kansas, ED 62, p. 16B, dwelling/family 186/---.^[6]
Davis, John F. Head 27 yrs b. Georgia (parents, b. South Carolina) Officer (Captain)
Davis, Arleen W. Wif e 25 yrs b. Texas (parents, b. Texas)
Davis, John F., Jr. Son 2-5/12 yrs b. Texas (parents, b. Georgia/Texas)

Census 1930
Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas, ED 13, p. 26A, dwelling/family 1131/1131 (215 Meade Ave).^[7]
Davis, John F. Head 37 yrs (marr. at 24 yrs) b. Georgia (parents, b. South Carolina) Soldier (Regular Army
Davis, Aileen W. Wife 30 yrs (marr. at 23 yrs) b. Texas (parents, b. Texas)
Davis, John F. Son 12 yrs b. Texas (parents, b. Georgia/Texas)
Davis, William D. Son 2 yrs b. Kansas (parents, b. Georgia/Texas)

Census 1940
New York, New York, ED 31-109, p. 54A, #54.^[8]
Davis, John F. Head 47 yrs (Coll-5) b. Georgia 1935: Guatemala Lt. Colonel (U.S. Army)
Davis, Aileen Wife 46 yrs (Coll-2) b. Texas 1935: Guatemala
Davis, William D. Son 12 yrs (6th Gr) b. Kansas 1935: Guatemala

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Find-a-Grave John F. Davis
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Social Security Death Index.
4. ↑ Austin American Statesman, 5 Jun 1916, p. 5.
5. ↑ New York Passenger & Crew Lists, 1917-1967.
6. ↑ Census Kansas 1920 Geary County.
7. ↑ Census Kansas 1930 Leavenworth County.
8. ↑ Census New York 1940 New York County.