A Jim Thorpe man who served in the U.S. Army and fought in some of the most horrific battles of World War II was honored Thursday for having 75 years of membership in the American Legion.

William H. Davis, 95, received a resolution from the Carbon County Commissioners and a pin from Christine LeClair, director of the county’s Veteran Affairs.

The presentations occurred during a ceremony held in the Diligence Fire Company in Jim Thorpe. In attendance were the county’s three commissioners; LeClair; county controller Mark Sverchek; two of Davis’ sons, William J. and Jeffrey, both of Jim Thorpe; and Henry Desrosiers, retired director of Carbon County Veterans Affairs, who represented Jim Thorpe American Legion Post 304.

Two of the commissioners, Chairman Wayne E. Nothstein and Chris L. Lukasevich, are military veterans. LeClair and Desrosiers are also veterans.

Davis served with the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, attached to the 4th Armored Division, under Gen. George S. Patton.

He attained the rank of corporal, having fought in the Central Europe Campaign, the Battle of the Bulge. He also fought at the Siege of Bastogne and was with the unit that liberated the first German concentration camp.

He sat in a wheelchair during the honors ceremony, and was visibly moved by the attention paid to him.

He said it was “very good” for the county to consider him worthy of the honors.

“I appreciate it a lot,” he said.

Davis graduated from Mauch Chunk High School in 1943 and was inducted into the U.S. Army on Oct. 9, 1944.

He said he was first sent to England, then to Germany, then Luxembourg and finally Italy.

He received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star and Citation Unit.

He was married to the late former Lorraine F. Yeakel and were married 55 years before she passed away on April 20, 2003.

They have three children, William J., with whom he resides; Jeffrey L. of Jim Thorpe, an Army veteran; Alan L. of Allentown, and one granddaughter, Sabyr-Lin Davis of Vero Beach, Florida.

He is a retired carpenter and cabinet installer.

Davis recalled of World War II, “I recall hearing German tanks revving up in the morning at 4 or 5 a.m.”

The only other comment he made about the war was, “I was just glad to get home in one piece.”

Nothstein told Davis, “It’s a great honor being here.”

Lukasevich said, “I can’t help but to be humbled and show my emotion in my eyes as I stand here before Mr. Davis.”

He added, “Notably, Mr. Davis is one of about 500 Mauch Chunkers of 3,009 residents who served our nation, and the world, during World War II.”

The commissioner mentioned the high death toll in battles of which Davis participated.

He said he was presenting the resolution to Davis “on behalf of the 500 Chunkers who served,” referring to Mauch Chunk, which was the name of the town before it became Jim Thorpe in 1954.

Arner said he comes from an era “where our fathers served in World War II.” He said many young people today don’t realize that World War II was fought because “there was somebody who wanted to take over the whole world.”

He mentioned the sacrifices of those who fought in the war and feels that students should be better educated about their efforts and successes.

LeClair summed it up by saying, “We are so happy to come together and pay tribute to you.”