I am very grateful to Jim Davis' younger brother Jack for sending me these photos and allowing me to share these photos with all former ASAers. Jim was called Tom by his friends and family.
Note: Jack Davis had signed the guest-book on this site. After reading his entry and noticing he was from Livingston,TN, I emailed Jack and asked if he was a relative or knew Jim from his time in Livingston. I also mentioned the if he was indeed related to Jim could he share any info he has about Jim's time back home in Tennessee. In a short time Jack replied to my email with the photo which is the first one shown below.
Jack, thank you so very much for sharing these photos of Tom who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country as well as the country of Vietnam. They are the first I have ever seen of Tom taken while in Vietnam.
Quotes from Jacks emails are shown below the photos.
"Hell-o Bob,
I'm Tom's youngest brother (now 54). I've attached a pic.
of Tom with his radio direction finder taken about half way
thru his tour. I scanned it from a transparency he sent. Thanks in your help to keep his memory alive as well as all those 50K+ who also paid the supreme price. So many were injured physically and mentally and should also be remembered. The events of today bring back so many thoughts of the 60's era.
Best regards,
Jack " (received on March 30, 2003)
"I wanted to send you another pic of Tom with a Vietnamese "friend". Note that at this time, advisers were not allowed firearms. I am of the impression that this fellow was a bodyguard, though he was later replaced with one bad looking dude. "
"Bob,
I'm attaching a picture of group of soldiers with Tom. Don't know anything about it as Tom sent his undeveloped film home for development. We would look at them and wonder what and who they were of, thinking that Tom would explain when he returned. Most of his pics are a mystery, though since this is really pre-war photos, the scenery is absolutely beautiful. As time passed, you could see more militery involved.
This picture is after a letter dad received from Tom stating that things were starting to heat up and requesting that dad send him a gun. I remember dad writing back and telling him that this was not possible due to laws and that even if he did send one, it would only be stolen thru the mail.
I have one more pic that I'll send you showing the other guy I feel must have been a body guard.
Jack"
"Bob,
Last picture. Tom and ? There are other pictures of this guy and Tom. Some with "him" holding a sub-machinegun. Some the both holding sub-machineguns.
In a letter Tom wrote in late year 1961, he was telling of being in the field overnight. Lots of killings of Vietnamse. Things were getting very hot. He woke up in the middle of the night with this guy standing over him. When he saw Tom was awake, he smilled and
walked away. Tom wondered about this.
Best regards,
Jack"
Close up of Tom and his bodyguard from the second photo.
Special Message to Jack Davis:
Thank you very much for signing my guestbook and for the compliments you gave after viewing my site.
I think I can speak for all ASAers when I thank you very much for these wonderful photos of Tom to help keep his memory alive.
