The state’s most decorated World War I hero resides in Manila, Arkansas. Private Herman Davis is known for independently taking out a German gun nest (~31 Germans) one by one, saving his company from their open fire. Receiving three medals for this act of bravery, he was listed as 4th out of 100 on General John J. Pershing’s list of the greatest heroes of World War I.
An out-of-the-way trip for us to visit the Herman Davis Memorial State Park was a neat experience. Manila might be a small town, but it offers a great deal of attractions for a variety of people. The highlight of our trip was learning about Manila’s war hero and his interestingly humble character at the state park.
If you have a chance to visit Manila, do not miss out on their other attractions! You will learn so much about Herman Davis and enjoy the museum. The town is easy to navigate and downtown is fun with their military themed street names.
Manila
Big Lake Island was founded in 1852. In the late 1860s, John Needham established a herdsman camp in this area of the Arkansas Delta region. A community developed in the area thirty years later. In 1901, the community incorporated themselves as a city. The name “Manila” was chosen to honor Commodore George Dewey and his victory in the 1898 Battle of Manila Bay in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War.
The railroad in the surrounding areas extended a rail line to the city soon after. In 1910, the railroad constructed the Manila Depot, which now serves as a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1925, the city established a memorial for Herman Davis and his heroism during World War I.
A total area of 3.8 square miles, Manila is just south of the Arkansas-Missouri state line. Even with less than a population of 4,000 people, this little town boasts a museum, state park, war memorial, national wildlife refuge, water park, municipal airport, and a country club. The town honors its military connections by naming their downtown streets after battleships in the Battle of Manila. Manila is also known for forming the state’s first Boy Scout troop. However, one of its main attractions is Herman Davis Memorial State Park.
Herman Davis
Growing up in a large wildlife and hunting area, Herman Davis learned to hunt at an early age. His family supplemented their income with farming, fishing, and hunting. After the fourth grade, he quit school to help support his family. Supposedly in his teens, Davis became a hunting guide. Killing almost 400 ducks a day, they were sold and shipped to northern markets.
In 1918, Davis was drafted into the United States Army during World War I. Being 5’3” and having a small frame, he was quick on his feet. As a result, he was assigned as a scout and a runner. Due to his marksmanship while hunting as a child, he also became a sharpshooter in the military. After 90 days of training, he was sent to France to fight in the war.
Being a scout, Davis was required to go out ahead of his company. On one patrol near Verdum, his platoon encountered shots from a German machine gun. Davis crawled on the ground to within fifty yards of the machine gun and killed four German gunners. Another time was when Davis killed five German soldiers as they were trying to set up a machine gun.
Davis’s most notable act of bravery was when a different German machine gun opened fire on the American forces. Davis and another scout climbed the ridge to spot the German gun nest. Leaving the other scout behind, Davis crawled on his belly through the brush to about 50 yards away from the gun. He took aim on the gunner and then took out each German one at a time. He independently killed 15 gunners in the machine gun nest and 11 German soldiers that were climbing out of a dugout. This act of bravery earned him three medals.
Honorably discharged in 1919, Herman Davis is Arkansas’ most decorated World War I hero. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the United States, and Croix de Guerre with Palm, Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star, and French Medaille Militaire by France.
Returning home to Manila, Davis began working at a hunting club. He was very humble and never told anyone about his acts of bravery in the military. As a scout, he encountered poison gas many times. Unfortunately, in 1922, his health took a decline. The exposure to poison gas caused him to develop tuberculosis. Members of the American Legion in Blytheville transported him to the Memphis Veteran’s Hospital for surgery. Sadly, Davis died during an operation in 1923. After four years of returning home, the poison gas had affected his lungs to the point of death.
“To raise funds to pay the debt from World War I, the Secretary of War asked General Pershing for the top 100 war stories. When the stories were published, Arkansans were suprised to find a small, quiet man on the list, Private Herman Davis of Manila, Arkansas.”
Herman Davis, Reluctant Hero
Upon his death, local groups began a collection to honor his memory and service. His mom chose Manila to honor his memory. In 1925, the town of Manila donated land for the memorial. They moved his body there to be interred at the monument’s base. A granite monument was erected and a life-size marble statue that was made in Italy stands on top of the monument. In 1995, the monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Did you know any of this about Private Herman Davis, World War I, or Manila?