Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Harry Grady Daves, Jr. Harry served during World War II.
Harry Grady Daves, Jr., had just graduated from high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He wanted to enlist in the Navy but did not meet the age requirement, so his father signed him away, permitting his service. After boot camp in California, Daves was assigned to the USS Landing Craft Infantry 48, part of the 8th Amphibious Forces, a team of Navy and Marines establishing beachheads.
Daves earned a Silver Star for the five major beachhead landings he participated in: North Africa/Tunisia, Gila, Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio.
Before participating in these major landings, Daves and his unit were loaned to the British and French forces to help invade the island of Elba. Later, on July 16, 1943, Harry was manning his gun on the landing craft when shrapnel hit nearby. Later that day, another fragment hit him in the arm, earning him the Purple Heart.
After his discharge in Oct. 1945, Daves went to work as a machinist at Humble Oil Refinery, where he worked for 31 years until his retirement in 1977. He was also a chaplain for the Son’s of Confederate Veterans, an ordained Baptist minister, and president of the Jacob Shannon Evergreen Cemetery, a burial ground started by his ancestors. Daves died in 2008. More of his story can be found at http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.11033/
We honor his service.
Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
Veterans History Project
This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.
Contributors:
Graphic designer: Joe Misko
Editor: Jenna Robles
Fact Checker: Shelby Bennett
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