Monday, January 2, 2012

Brigadier General Thomas J. Davis.


Thomas Jefferson Davis was my great great uncle. I never actually knew him but he has helped me learn more about the workings of Staff Positions in WWII. Here is an excerpt from Forrest Pogue's excellent  United States Army in World War II, European Theater of Operations. 


BRIG. GEN. THOMAS J. DAVIS was an aide of General MacArthur in the Philippines from 1928 to 1930 and returned with him to the U.S. to duty in the Office of the Chief of Staff in 1930. In September 1933 he returned to the Philippines, serving as assistant military adviser under MacArthur until January 1938 when he became adviser in the Philippines on adjutant general affairs. In January 1940 Davis came back to the War Department, first in The Adjutant General's Office and then as executive officer of the Special Service Branch of the War Department. In April 1942 he became executive officer in the office of the Chief of Administrative Services, Headquarters, SOS. He was appointed adjutant general of Headquarters, ETOUSA, in July 1942. From August 1942 to January 1944 he was adjutant general of Allied Force Headquarters. In February 1944 he was named adjutant general of SHAEF. In April when the SHAEF Public Relations Division was established, he became its head. In October 1944 he returned to the post of adjutant general of SHAEF. 




9 comments:

  1. This man is my grandfather! I have a metal of his.His first wife was my mother's mother. Princess Nina is his second wife. They lived in Texas together. My name is Lynn Hanson. My mothers name is Henrietta Davis. Wes do you know if General Davis served under President Eisenhower at all?

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    1. Actually, he did. He not only served with Eisenhower for 10 years in the Philippines under MacArthur, he was adjutant General of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. He was also personally invited by Eisenhower to Ike's Inauguration. My mother knew of your mother, they would have been second cousins. She would love to talk to you sometime, we have many letters and memorabilia of your grandfather, aka my great, great uncle, including a picture of him with Churchill and Eisenhower in France. My Grandfather dearly loved Tom. It is amazing to make contact with you!

      -Wes Emory

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    2. My apologies for the delay. I just recently found your email response. I would love to correspond and make connections. I have an email waiting to send with some pics. Talking with your mother would be wonderful!
      Lynn

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    3. He is my great uncle. My grandmother Lucy Davis Newton was his sister. Her son Benjamin was my father.

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    4. My grandfather was sergeant William konrad.He was Brig. General Thomas Jefferson Davis's personal driver and was also part of SHAEF. My uncle has a lot of stories in history of them.

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    5. My grandfather was sergeant William konrad.He was Brig. General Thomas Jefferson Davis's personal driver and was also part of SHAEF. My uncle has a lot of stories in history of them.

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    6. Hey Dan, it would be great to hear some of those stories. My email is wesemory@gmail.com.

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    7. Hey Dan, it would be great to hear some of those stories. My email is wesemory@gmail.com.

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  2. Hello - I thought you may be interested to see this posting on Craigslist:
    http://greenville.craigslist.org/atq/4370385117.html

    This is a military gun chest with the name "Major T J Davis" inscribed. I did not post this, but I thought the family may be interested in acquiring this personal artifact. The piece is located in Easley, SC - less than 30 minutes from where Jefferson Davis was born in West Union.

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