{{Short description|African-American World War II veteran (1919–2024)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} '''Romay Davis''' (née '''Johnson'''; October 29, 1919 – June 21, 2024) was a member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit to serve overseas during World War II. In 2022, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the 6888th in recognition of its members' contributions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-18 |title='When these women left home there were rumours that they were sent to Europe to be concubines for black soldiers' – The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2024/12/18/when-these-women-left-home-there-were-rumours-that-they-were-sent-to-europe-to-be-concubines-for-black-soldiers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218055833/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2024/12/18/when-these-women-left-home-there-were-rumours-that-they-were-sent-to-europe-to-be-concubines-for-black-soldiers/ |archive-date=18 December 2024 |access-date=2024-12-22 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> Davis was one of the Battalion's last surviving members.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Karimi |first=Faith |date=2023-02-23 |title=She knew little about her mother's military service in Europe during World War II. Then she did a Google search and got a surprise |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/23/us/6888th-battalion-world-war-2-cec/index.html |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
== Biography == Davis was born on October 29, 1919, and grew up in Virginia with her five brothers.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Lamberth |first=Minnie |date=July 22, 2022 |title=Alabama Centenarian – Alabama Living Magazine |url=https://alabamaliving.coop/articles/alabama-centenarian/ |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=alabamaliving.coop |language=en-US}}</ref> At the start of World War Two, she worked for the United States Mint.<ref name=":4" /> She joined the Women's Army Corps in 1943 and was one of 855 women who served in the United States Army's 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only predominantly all-black US Women's Army Corps unit sent overseas during World War II. She was first deployed to England after departing New York City for a transatlantic crossing that caused many of her battalion to get seasick.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hymel |first=Kevin M. |date=June 2021 |title=A Black WAC in the U.S. Army |url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/a-black-wac-in-the-u-s-army/ |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=Warfare History Network |language=en-US}}</ref> Once in England, the battalion sorted a large backlog of mail, and then the group moved to France to sort mail that had accumulated there.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Free |first=Cathy |date=March 23, 2002 |title=She joined the only Black female unit sent overseas in WWII. Now 102, she's the oldest living member. |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/03/23/romay-johnson-davis-wwii-army/ |access-date=September 10, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Her primary role was as a driver, though she did also sort mail.<ref name=":4" /> Davis returned to the United States in November 1945 and was honorably discharged from the Army. In the years that followed, she moved to New York City where she graduated from New York's Traphagen School of Fashion<ref name=":4" /> with funding from the G.I. Bill,<ref>{{Cite web |title=WWII veteran Romay Davis awarded Congressional Gold Medal |url=https://www.army.mil/article/258927/wwii_veteran_romay_davis_awarded_congressional_gold_medal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802153301/https://www.army.mil/article/258927/wwii_veteran_romay_davis_awarded_congressional_gold_medal |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=www.army.mil |language=en}}</ref> and worked for the company Glen of Michigan as a designer for over thirty years.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Atchinson |first=David |date=March 9, 1999 |title=6888th PDB – Johnson-Davis, Romay Catherine |pages=24 |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26168793/6888th-pdb-johnson-davis-romay/ |access-date=September 10, 2022}}</ref> At the age of 61, Davis returned to school at New York University and earned a master's degree in technology and industrial education.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Kurtz |first=Holly |date=January 29, 1996 |title=6888th PDB – Johnson-Davis, Romay C. page 1 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26173123/6888th-pdb-johnson-davis-romay-c/],[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26173049/6888th-pdb-johnson-davis-romay-c-pag/] |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26173123/6888th-pdb-johnson-davis-romay-c/ |access-date=September 10, 2022}}</ref>
Davis earned a second degree black belt in Taekwondo, after starting karate at the age of 73.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
At the age of 81, Davis started working in a Winn-Dixie grocery store.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Harper |first=Brad |date=November 4, 2020 |title=Parade honors 101-year-old Black WWII veteran Romay Davis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109270966/parade-honors-101-year-old-wwii-veteran/ |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=Montgomery Advertiser |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, its parent company, Southeastern Grocers, Inc., initiated the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant with the goal of funding minority-supporting organizations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Brad |date=October 29, 2020 |title=Program in her name |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109271253/program-in-her-name/],[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109271321/] |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109271253/program-in-her-name/ |access-date=September 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Redman |first=Russell |date=July 9, 2020 |title=Southeastern Grocers launches minority grant program |work=Supermarket News; New York |id={{ProQuest|<!-- Insert ProQuest data here --> }}}}</ref>
Davis turned 101 in 2020, and the city of Montgomery, Alabama, honored her with a parade and declared her birthday "Romay Davis Day".<ref name=":1" /> The town had previously celebrated her 100th birthday.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Brad |date=November 3, 2019 |title=I've got stuff to dod |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109272663/ive-got-stuff-to-dod/],[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50347220/johnson-davis-romay-catherine-page-3/] |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109272663/ive-got-stuff-to-dod/ |access-date=September 10, 2022}}</ref>
Romay Davis married Jerry Davis, whom she met in New York City when he worked for the New York City subway system.<ref name=":0" /> She died in Montgomery, Alabama on June 21, 2024, at the age of 104.<ref>https://www.wsfa.com/2024/06/24/beloved-montgomerian-congressional-gold-medal-recipient-romay-davis-dies-104/ Beloved Montgomerian, Congressional Gold Medal recipient Romay Davis dies at 104</ref>
== Awards and honors == In 2022, Davis received the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her services in the United States Army.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Truesdell |first1=Jeff |date=July 28, 2022 |title=Meet Romay Davis, 102-Year-Old Black Female Army Vet Honored with Gold Medal for Groundbreaking WWII Service |url=https://people.com/human-interest/romay-david-102-year-old-female-army-veteran-accepts-congressional-gold-medal-wwii/ |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=People Magazine |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Cortney |date=July 26, 2022 |title=102-year-old WWII veteran from segregated mail unit to receive congressional medal |url=https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/102-year-old-wwii-veteran-segregated-mail-unit-receive-congressional-medal |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> In the press events that followed, Davis was asked why she served, and she replied "It's my country too".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Holt |first1=Lester |last2=Alexander |first2=Blayne |date=July 26, 2022 |title=Long Overdue Honors For A 102-Year-Old World War II Veteran |work=NBC Nightly News; New York New York |id={{ProQuest|<!-- Insert ProQuest data here --> }}}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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==Further reading== * [https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/a-black-wac-in-the-u-s-army/ Warfare History Network 2021 article] * [https://www.ww2online.org/view/romay-davis#france-and-postwar-life National World War II Digital Collection]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Romay}} Category:1919 births Category:2024 deaths Category:African-American centenarians Category:American women centenarians Category:New York University alumni Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients Category:People from Montgomery, Alabama Category:African-American United States Army personnel Category:People from Virginia Category:Traphagen School of Fashion alumni Category:American female taekwondo practitioners Category:20th-century African-American sportswomen Category:20th-century American sportswomen Category:Female United States Army personnel Category:20th-century United States Army personnel