WCNC, Rockdale County

Man Who Served With U.S. Navy During World War II Celebrates 100th Birthday

Updated September 8, 2021

When we lead quiet lives, we might get the impression at times that we aren't making much of an impact on other people. However, one underappreciated reality of the world is that we have a way of influencing people without even realizing it.

We may have thought we were just passing the time when we had a chat with someone, but when we hear that person quote us later on, we realize the effect our words had. In such situations, it can be surprising enough to hear that somebody even remembered what we said, let alone took it to heart.

So if one vet ever had any doubt about the mark he left on the world, it likely disappeared when he saw how many people were excited to mark his 100th birthday.

Growing up in Brookshire, Texas, James Davis had to learn to be a leader early in life.

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As WTSP reported, he lost his father as a teenager and found himself pushing his five younger siblings to finish school before becoming a Private First Class Cook in the U.S. Navy.

His service occurred during World War II, eventually leading him to join the United States Merchant Marines and later, the National Park Service.

WTSP, Lynda Jackson

According to WTSP, he also traveled the world and was hired as President Lyndon B. Johnson's personal assistant.

But on August 8, Davis' family and close friends got together to celebrate another of his achievements: seeing his 100th birthday.

WCNC

This momentous birthday included one of five proclamation ceremonies in which his latest home of Rockdale County, Georgia honored him for his service to the community.

The other proclamation ceremonies held in his honor were by various organizations and cities, including his hometown of Brookshire, as well as Austin, Texas.

And while Davis was clearly touched by the effort his family and community put in to celebrate his birthday, there was a bittersweet element to the event.

WCNC

As his daughter Lynda Jackson explained, this was because it happened in the absence of his wife of 20 years who passed away an unspecified number of years ago.

The couple quickly discovered they had "everything" in common after meeting through mutual friends and married three months into their relationship.

As Jackson said, "They never had an argument."

Lynda Jackson went on to say, "He doesn’t realize how impactful he has been in my life."

WCNC

As she told WTSP, "His resilience and steadiness, don’t tend to let anything rattle him, knowing my dad you come to love the nuggets that he’ll throw out at you,---never let anyone mess up your personality. Nothing [visibly] appears to shake him."

h/t: WTSP

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