Community members honor legacy of Asa Davison, oldest WWII veteran in Marion County
Sep. 27—MONONGAH — At age 99, Marion County native Asa Davison has stories to spare.
There's the years he spent as a postal worker. And the marriage to his wife, Dolores, which has extended more than half a century.
But on Tuesday afternoon, members of the community came together to honor one story in particular — Davison's years of service in the United States Army.
Today, Davison holds the title of oldest living World War II veteran in Marion County. But way back in June 1943 he had just begun charting out his life's path when he was drafted into the Army.
When Davison completed his basic training in Alabama, the U.S. military remained racially segregated. As an African American service member, Davison had to endure not just unequal resources, but unjust treatment on the basis of his race.
During this era of segregation, "African American troops had it so hard," said David Tucker, an Army veteran who works with the Marion County Historical Society. "A lot of times they had to make do with substandard equipment the white soldiers discarded, and they had to do dangerous or humiliating jobs. But they distinguished themselves magnificently."
For Davison, hard work and dedication carried him through years of service in the United States, as well as deployment at South Pacific bases from Guadalcanal to New Guinea to Leyte.
And Davison's spirit of service persevered beyond his time in the military.
His return to the mainland U.S. came with years of public speaking at churches and schools, where he educated the local community on the experiences of African American military service members.
With a past that touches the minds and hearts of Marion County residents in the present, Davison was honored by members of the local community who came together to present him with a commemorative plaque on Tuesday.
Printed onto a gilded metal, the plaque displayed a resolution that community members championed to the Marion County Commission.
The resolution, now passed, publicly thanked Davison for his years of "valor and heroism" as a soldier, and for serving as a "shining role model" in his community.
The plaque was commissioned by Monongah resident Kip Price, who has made an extensive effort to uplift the stories and experiences of veterans across Marion County.
"All veterans deserve so much more than we can ever repay," Price said. "We're just so thankful and grateful that we're able to come over and present that."
Davison's son, Brian, has long known of his father's legacy, and attended the ceremony with gratitude for each community member involved Tuesday.
"So many serve and do so much for the following generation," he said. "It's nice that they can be recognized."
At his age, Davison said that receiving recognition from the people and place he loves is especially meaningful, remaining with him every day.
"My father always said, 'If you're going to give something to somebody, give it to them while they can see it," Davison said.
The memory of that gift — "they'll take it to the grave with them," he added.
Reach Jack Walker by email at jwalker@timeswv.com.
