Sergeant Harold Burton Davis

Sergeant Harold Burton Davis, made the supreme sacrifice for his country on February 1, 1944, when his plane crashed on Mt. Kenevi, New Guinea, in the company of his ten comrades.

He was born January 8, 1920 on the family farm near Caldwell, Ohio, in Noble County.  He was the son of the late, John Burton Davis and Birdie Weekley Davis.

 In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his siblings, Edgel, Lura (Waite), Lester and Kenneth.

He is survived by his nephew, Richard (Carolyn) Waite; nieces, Dixie Davis (Bill) Deal, Kelly Davis (Kevin) Roberts, all of Zanesville.

 Harold moved to Zanesville in 1926 at the age of six years old.  He attended Lash High School (class of 1939) and was the first of the family to graduate high school.  Harold worked for Mosaic Tile, played for the Mosaic Tile Softball team, the Industrial League Champions of 1941.  He was a member of the First Free Methodist Church of Zanesville, Sunday School and Young People’s Missionary Society.  Following his enlistment, Harold was sent to Scott Field in Illinois, where he graduated from government radio school.  In March of 1942 he was sent to Australia and later Buna, New Guinea, where he served as a code telegrapher.

The plane crash that killed Sergeant Harold Burton Davis, was not discovered for seventeen years.  Harold’s mother never stopped believing he was alive and died not knowing what became of her son.

Awards and Decorations:  Army Good Conduct Medal (Posthumous); Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Silver Service Star and one Bronze Service Star; World War II Victory Medal; Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster; Philippine Defense Ribbon; and Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.

In a letter that is believed to be the last wrote he says, “There is no place like home” and “God be with us till we meet again.”

Harold is coming home after seventy-three years.  His last flight will land in Columbus, OH August 10, 2017 with an escort from the United States Army, Patriot Guard Riders and local law enforcement, back to his hometown of Zanesville, OH. The procession will be traveling I-70 East to Route 40/Main Street through town to South 5th Street, arriving approximately 3:30 p.m.   

A graveside service will be held Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Zanesville Memorial Park with full Military honors conducted by the United States Army in conjunction with the VFW George Selsam Post 1058 and American Legion Post 29.  A procession will leave 10:00 a.m. August 12, 2017 from DeLong-Baker & Lanning Funeral Home, 56 South 5th Street, Zanesville, OH 43701 and will proceed through downtown, where the community is invited to honor and pay tribute to one of the last veterans of our greatest generation returning home.

UPDATED: Procession Details Saturday, August 12, 2017

South Street to 6th Street

6th Street to Adair Ave

Adair Ave to 146/Newark Rd

146/Newark Rd to Northpointe Dr

Northpointe Dr to Military Rd   

Following the conclusion of graveside services the American Legion Post 29, located 27 S. 3rd Street, Zanesville, OH 43701, will host a wake, in memory of Sergeant Harold Burton Davis.  This event is open to the public until it concludes at 4:00 p.m.  

To sign the online guestbook please visit www.delongbakerlanning.com

 Service Information