SoM3 Edward Nelson Davis (Typhoon Cobra, WWII)

Remembering SoM3 Edward Nelson Davis (Huntington)

December 5, 1922 - December 18, 1944

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"It was only by the combined might of the winds and the seas that Spence was silenced and finally laid to rest—honorably buried at sea as is befitting a brave and rugged seaman!" 

-Rear Admiral Henry A. Armstrong

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SoM3 Edward Nelson Davis (Service # 05604079) was born in Huntington, WV on December 5, 1922, the son of William Eliza (W.E.) and Margaret (Smith) Davis.

W.E. and Margaret married in 1921 in Ohio. The 1930 Census shows the family living on Auburn Road in Huntington City (Wayne County), where W.E. worked as a salesman at a retail store. From there, they moved to 2208 Washington Street in Huntington (Cabell County), and W.E. worked as a post office clerk.

Edward was a 1941 graduate of Huntington High School, where he was known as "Edison" and listed as a science major. The West Virginia Memory Project notes that he was also a graduate of the Huntington School of Business.*

Military Service

Edward entered the draft on June 30, 1942. At his time of registration, he was still living with his parents on Washington Street, and working at Fitzgerald & Co. Edward was 5'11" and 150 lbs, with blue eyes, brown hair, and light skin.

On October 14, 1942, Edward enlisted in the Navy in Charleston, WV(Navy Muster Calls). On December 12, 1942, he arrived at Fleet Sonar School in Key West, FL from the US Navy Training Center in Norfolk, VA. He was promoted from S2C (Seaman 2nd Class) to SoM3c (Soundman Third Class) V-6 on January 30, 1943, and transferred to San Francisco on February 4, 1943. A SoM3c is someone who operates and maintains sonar equipment. He spent time on the USS Rigel, USS Medusa (while transferring), and USS Wilson (April-July 19, 1943), before attending West Coast Sound School.

On March 1, 1944, Edward boarded the USS Spence from San Diego. This would be his last assignment, as he remained on board the Spence until its sinking on December 18, 1944.

Typhoon Cobra

Also known as Halsey's Typhoon, Typhoon Cobra struck Task Force 38 of the US Third Fleet beginning December 17, 1944, and worsening on December 18, 1944. Task Force 38 was off the coast of Leyte and in dire need of re-fueling when they began to encounter hurricane-strength winds.

The Naval History and Heritage Command says of the USS Spence in Typhoon Cobra:
"Spence (DD-512) was a new Fletcher-class destroyer, much more stable than the older Farragut-class, but she was in trouble even before the typhoon hit, with her fuel state down to 15%, which meant she had less than 24 hours’ steaming time at eight knots. After unsuccessfully attempting to refuel from battleship New Jersey (BB-62) on the 17th, she was then ordered to accompany the oiler group to refuel at the first chance, which never came. Her skipper began water-ballasting too late and she began rolling heavily to port. Water entered through the ventilators and short-circuited the distribution board. Then the rudder jammed hard right. At 1110, Spence took a deep roll to port, recovered, and then took another one from which she did not recover, going down with 317 of her crew (23 survived), the first destroyer to sink in the typhoon." (Cox, 2019)

Unfortunately, SoM3 Edward Nelson Davis was one of the 317 lost crew members of the USS Spence. His body was never recovered.

Legacy and Survivors:

While Edward's body was never required, his name is immortalized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. He was survived by his parents, William (1898-1972) and Margaret (1901-1987), as well as his younger sister, Gloria Jean (1929-1996).

SoM3 Edward Nelson Davis is honored at the  West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV, and on the USS Spence Memorial wall plaque at the National Museum of the Pacific War.

Sources and More Information:

* Note: I have not been able to verify Edward's attendance at the Huntington School of Business

  • American Battle Monuments Commission Profile: Edward N. Davis
  • Family Search Profile: SoM3 Edward Nelson Davis
  • Findagrave Profile: SoM3 Edward Nelson “Eddie” Davis
  • Huntington High School Yearbooks: 1939, 1941 (Accessed through Ancestry and with help from the Cabell County Public Library). Edward's photo above is from the 1941 Huntington High School Yearbook, with special thanks to the Cabell County Public Library for their assistance!
  • U.S. Census (Accessed through FamilySearch)
  • US, World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 (Accessed through Ancestry)
  • West Virginia Veterans Database (West Virginia Memory Project): 
    • WWII Draft Card: 

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