His Story

The Beginning

It was December 31, 1940, literally minutes before midnight, when a small healthy, redheaded, freckled faced baby boy entered the world. Robert Arnold Davis, affectionally called “Bobby”, would be the 5th of 8 children, and the 4th son of Viola and Clement Davis of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. Named after his Uncle Robert Brown, Bobby grew up in a close loving environment. Influenced by family, the church, and life, Bobby grew to be a Distinguished American Hero (with Valor), of the Vietnam War.

School Days

Interviews with Bobby’s classmates at their 10th bi-annual alumni reunion, on September 18, 2021, reveal how much they enjoyed being with him.  Bobby’s classmates helped to establish important influences on his life and character. From birth to grade school and on through the transition from one room schools in 1954, to graduation from Oxford High in 1960, his family and closest friends remember him well. Classmates who were in attendance at the reunion were eager to tell their story, often adding to each other’s thoughts and laughing or joking about their time together.

Their most vivid memories describe the stature of a small boy with a heart, as big as the world.  Most of these memories were at VillaNova School, in Upper Oxford Township, Pennsylvania. (The school was later repurposed as a home and then purchased by his Gold Star Mother, Viola S. Brown-Davis).

Bobby was described by his classmates as quiet and reserved (Osborne Moran).  He was easy going and very nice.  Another classmate states, “I remember him as a dear quiet, mannerly fellow whom everyone liked” (Elma Moran Dean).  He got along well with others particularly during recess.  George Nickels, who kept the furnace going at VillaNova Schoolhouse recalled a rather unnerving incident where one of the teachers wasn’t nice to any of the students.  If a student forgot their pencil or tablet (the old kind), she would call their name and crack them anywhere on their body, with a ruler, - not once but several times if she felt like it.  On one occasion Bobby’s pencil was taken by another student and the same teacher slammed Bobby against the wall for seemingly not having his.  He didn’t cry or tell on the other guy. Upon returning home from school, his classmates told their parents and the woman was fired.  George Nickels said lovingly, “Bobby wasn’t going to cry, he just wouldn’t”.  He took it for the classmate just as it appears he did for his comrades, that’s why the” V” on the Bronze Star, for valor.  Bobby was loved by the entire class of 1960 and was honored posthumously with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017.

The Call to Duty

Almost immediately after high school Bobby was drafted to serve in Vietnam. His courage by heroic action led him to be the first to be mortally wounded in combat from Chester County, Pennsylvania. Bobby displayed outstanding courage by repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire to keep his defense position and shield his fellow comrades.

Recollections

Conversations in the following postings delve deeper into his story. You will out find how school, especially the extra curriculum, friends’, and family played a big part in developing his world view.

We will share these recollections along with his own letters as they chronicle his short yet distinguished life. Join us as we endow the Robert A. Davis Memorial Scholarship in his honor. Thank you for joining in as we keep his legacy.