Donald Davies

Donald DaviesFor extraordinary heroism in action on 30 July 1944, in the vicinity of Hamby, France. As a member of a three man patrol, Private Davies advanced far beyond his company lines in an effort to determine enemy strength and disposition. The enemy promptly closed in, captured the trio, and marched them to a nearby barn. A German officer, addressing the leader of the patrol, demanded that he divulge the location and strength of the attacking American unit. The leader refused to comply, whereupon the German officer shot and killed him. A second member of the patrol was then questioned in a similar manner, He too refused to respond to the German’s demands and suffered a similar fate. The German officer then turned to Private Davies and demanded that he give the desired information. He refused and was shot in the leg. Upon further questioning he maintained his silence and the officer shot him in the arm. Despite intense pain, he continued his heroic silence until he was subsequently rescued by his company. Private Davies’ willingness to undergo severe torture and face imminent death rather than betray his fellow soldiers is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.

The above citation does not due justice to the acts performed by Davies. He was first wounded by shrapnel in the head during the Normandy invasion and he could have been evacuated but he continued to fight with his unit. After he was captured he was first shot in his leg. Then the second shot went through his arm, into his chest, and lodged in his spine. He was then left for dead and that is how he appeared to the British soldiers who found him. He stated “when they tied my dog tag to my big toe, I woke up and someone yelled, ‘Hey, this one is still alive.'”