John E. Davis (North Dakota politician)
| John Davis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Director of the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency | |
|
In office May 5, 1972 – January 20, 1977 |
|
| President |
Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Bardyl Tirana |
| Director of the Office of Civil Defense | |
|
In office May 20, 1969 – May 5, 1972 |
|
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Joseph Romm |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| National Commander of the American Legion | |
|
In office 1966–1967 |
|
| Preceded by | Eldon James |
| Succeeded by | William E. Galbraith |
| 25th Governor of North Dakota | |
|
In office January 9, 1957 – January 4, 1961 |
|
| Lieutenant |
Francis Duffy Clarence P. Dahl |
| Preceded by | Norman Brunsdale |
| Succeeded by | William L. Guy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Edward Davis April 18, 1913 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | May 12, 1990 (aged 77) Rancho Mirage, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
Pauline Huntley (m. 1938; div. 1978) Marilyn Westlie (m. 1980–90) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of North Dakota (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant Colonel
|
| Commands | 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry |
| Battles/wars |
World War II • Invasion of Normandy • Operation Overlord • Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine • Battle of the Bulge • Western Allied invasion of Germany |
| Awards |
 Silver Star Bronze Star Purple Heart
|
John E. Davis (born John Edward Davis; April 18, 1913 – May 12, 1990) was Director of the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency from 1969 to 1976. He previously served as the National Commander of The American Legion, from 1966 to 1967, and as the 25th Governor of North Dakota from 1957 to 1961.
Davis was born in Goodrich, North Dakota. After attending several years of high school in Fargo, he graduated from Bismarck High School in 1931. Later that fall, he enrolled at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. While at the University, he pledged for Beta Theta Pi, and was active in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He was the ranking officer in Scabbard and Blade, an organization of select senior ROTC cadet officers. Davis graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce in 1935. He returned to Goodrich and took over management of his family's ranch and farm. Davis was married to Pauline Huntley in 1938, and they had three children; John Jr., Richard, and Kathleen. The couple divorced after forty years of marriage in 1978, after which he married Marilyn R. Westlie in 1980.
In May 1941, Davis reported first to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, before being sent to Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, where he became commander of Company C, 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry, 35th Infantry Division. He saw extensive combat duty in the European Theater, and received the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. He was discharged from the United States Army on July 31, 1945, from Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
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