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William Bruce Davis

William Bruce Davis

April 27, 2026

headshot photo of William Bruce Davis

Rank: Captain
Branch: Army
UT Major/Affiliation: Liberal Arts 1939
Hometown: Johnson City, TN

  • March 28, 1917 – April 6, 1942
  • Johnson City, TN
  • UT Liberal Arts 1939
  • Captain Army
  • 45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts
  • Killed in action on Trail 8, Bataan, Philippine Islands, fighting against the Japanese Invaders
  • Silver Star, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
  • Manila American Cemetery and Memorial – Tablets of the Missing

William Bruce Davis (March 28, 1917 – April 6, 1942) was from Johnson City, Tennessee. He was a graduate of Science Hill High School’s Class of 1934 and the University of Tennessee’s Class of 1939. Davis enlisted in the United States Army before the outbreak of the Second World War. He served in the rank of Captain as part of the Philippine Scouts’ 45th Infantry Regiment. He was stationed in the Philippines when they were invaded by the Japanese at the immediate start of the war. The 45th Regiment fought valiantly against the invaders across the Bataan Peninsula. Capt. William Davis was killed in action there alongside the first three Medal of Honor recipients of the war. For his own efforts, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery’s Tablets of the Missing Memorial in Manila, Philippines.

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45th Infantry Officers
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Tennesseans and War

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