Edward Bassford Davis Jr. was born on December 31, 1918, in Nyack, Rockland County, New York. He was the son of Edward Bassford Davis Sr.

Davis graduated from Nyack High School in 1935. He moved to California, entered the University of California, and graduated with an engineering degree. He was an active member of the ROTC. He served in Company B, 1st Battalion, 19th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as a First Lieutenant during World War II. He was Killed in Action on July 28, 1944, during the Battle for Guam.

Silver Star Citation:
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Edward B. Davis, Jr., United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as an Engineer Platoon Leader attached to the First Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Marianas Islands, 28 July 1944. With his engineer unit assigned to fill a gap in the front lines as an assault rifle platoon during a vital attack on the enemy, First Lieutenant Davis courageously led his men in a bold, aggressive assault until extremely intense hostile fire halted the advance and struck down his scouts. Completely disregarding his own safety, he unhesitatingly crawled two hundred yards forward in the face of grave peril to locate the enemy resistance and forced the Japanese to disclose their position before he himself was mortally wounded. By his inspiring leadership and dauntless fighting spirit, First Lieutenant Davis enabled his platoon to capture its objective, and his self-sacrificing devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

Source of information: www.findagrave.com