Edward E. Davis, also known as Earl Davis, was born in early 1916. He is currently 97 years old and is at least the oldest living World War II veteran in Smyth County, Virginia. At the age of twenty-five, on September 8, 1941, Davis was drafted into the United States Army and sent for basic training in South Carolina. He was one of five children, all sons, and all served in the United States Army. His official title in the United States Army was bearer, gunner, and ammunition carrier. Davis was married to Mary Irene Tolliver Davis, who sadly passed away on March 29, 2005 at the age of 82. While most of the world had raised armies and fought among themselves, the United States of America still claimed neutrality and isolationism during most of 1941. Because of this, Davis was required to undergo basic training, but had no yet seen any form of combat. However, on December 7, 1941, all that was about to change. From the American perspective, at 7:46 am on December 7, America was still considered neutral and not formally involved in the war. At 7:48 a.m., bombing began on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Imperial Japanese Navy had snuck in and bombed most of the US fleet docked at the Hawaiian base. This officially ended U.S. neutrality, and on December 8, 1941, the United States officially declared war on Japan. Davis remembered the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but only momentarily hinted that he was going to war. On the day of the attacks, Davis said he was peeling potatoes in his base's kitchen when the announcement of the attacks was made. Davis also recalled how he had signed up to be sent to Panama, and was told he would receive a f... middle of paper... and his six children. Davis does not resent being drafted into the military, even at the age of twenty-five. He believes it helped him mature and shape who he truly was, and even allowed him to return home with new options and perspectives on life. He also credited the war for strengthening his bond with his wife. Although they had not been married long before his departure in 1941, once he arrived home, he never wanted to see life without her again and, in turn, they remained married until her recent death in 2005. Davis continued in life having six children, which led to eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He hopes that if nothing else is passed down from generation to generation, his legacy of fighting for freedoms not only in America, but also abroad will carry forward each of his family members..