Theta Xi Fraternity News
Pearl Harbor Remembered
Reflecting upon the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 70-years ago is always a somber occurance. We take time to remember the lost and honor those who served, and continue to serve, the United States military.
Looking back on that 'infamous' day, Theta Xi lost two fine young men on December 7, 1941 - Ensign Walter S. Savage, Jr. (Alpha Alpha 193) and Ensign F. Curtice Davis (Phi 233) , both pictured above.
Brother Savage was an assistant paymaster on the battleship U.S.S. Arizona at the time of his death. His battle station during the action was decoding messages for the Admiral who was stationed on the Arizona, as it was the flagship of the fleet. Apparently he was killed instantly by the explosion of the powder magazine with the Arizona was attacked. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1938 and was very active in the chapter as an undergraduate and alumni member.
Brother Davis was stationed as an ensign with an aviation unit on the U.S.S. Nevada in the Pacific Fleet. He received the Navy Cross, the highest honor that maybe bestowed by the Department of Navy, for his actions on December 7, 1941. President Roosevelt presented posthumously to his brother, Burnell Davis (Phi 237), who survived him.
The service for which the Navy Cross was presented to Brother Davis is set forth in the following citation: "For distinguished service, extraordinary courage and devotion to duty during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. Since no ship's planes were aboard the U.S.S. Nevada, Ensign Davis, on his own initiative and in a heroic effort to be of the greatest usefulness to his ship, was proceeding to the foremast structure to take charge of the forward ant-aircraft machine gun battery when killed by a bomb explosion."
Brother Davis graduated from Wisconsin in 1936 and served his chapter as President.
Theta Xi is very proud to honor the memory of these two men and the countless brothers who have given their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.
May they rest in peace.
