Davis, Myrle Clarence
DAVIS, MAXON
Posted By: Nettie Mae (email)
Date: 5/22/2025 at 10:58:24
**Myrle Clarence Davis (1920–1941): A Life Cut Short in Service**
Myrle Clarence Davis was born on November 20, 1920, in Iowa, United States, to Harold Davis and Gladys Maxon. He spent his early years in Sac County, Iowa, where he grew up during the Great Depression in a close-knit community. Census records from 1925, 1930, and 1940 show Myrle living in Sac City with his father, Harold, as he progressed from a young child to a nineteen-year-old man preparing to step into adulthood.
With the world edging closer to war, Myrle answered the call of duty and joined the United States Navy. He was assigned to the **USS *Arizona* (BB-39)**, a Pennsylvania-class battleship and a proud fixture of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Commissioned in 1916, the *Arizona* had long served as a symbol of American naval strength and was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by late 1941.
### **The USS *Arizona* and the Attack on Pearl Harbor**
In the early morning hours of **December 7, 1941**, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, seeking to cripple the American fleet. The attack came in two waves, with bombs and torpedoes raining down on battleships, airfields, and infrastructure.
At approximately 8:06 a.m., a bomb struck the *Arizona*, igniting a cataclysmic explosion as it detonated the ship’s ammunition magazines. The blast shattered the battleship, engulfing it in flames and sending it to the harbor floor within minutes. Of the 1,512 men aboard, more than 1,170—including Myrle Clarence Davis—lost their lives.
The destruction of the *Arizona* became the defining tragedy of the Pearl Harbor attack and a turning point in U.S. history. The next day, America declared war on Japan, officially entering World War II.
### **Final Resting Place**
Myrle Davis, only 21 years old at the time of his death, was among those entombed within the wreckage of the *Arizona*. Today, he is honored at the **USS Arizona Memorial** in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his name is inscribed in marble alongside his fallen shipmates. The site remains a place of solemn reflection and national remembrance.
Though his life was brief, Myrle's legacy endures in the story of courage and sacrifice shared by those who served during one of the most pivotal moments in American history. His service and ultimate sacrifice are remembered with honor and gratitude.
Sources: FindAGrave and census records
Myrle Clarence Davis
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