Re: Rudolph B. Davila

[indiosbravos]

I'm trying to research about him and the 3rd infantry Division. Any added information will be highly appreciated. I've got the basic info about him, awards, family, division etc... but what I would like to know was his Ancestry Enigma?

Many author calls him Hispanic- Filipino (Father from Mexico?
Mother from Philippines?)

The Army when gathering info about him for MOH discovered that his Father was Spanish and Mother was Filipino. ( Spanish- Filipino )

One author who interviewed him mentioned that he said that his Father was Filipino.

To his living family this was all seems to be irrelevent since he was always regarded as Mexican?

either way Spanish-Mexican- Filipino I'm proud of his achievements.

forgot to mentioned American.....

[legionnaire]

Filipinas Magazine Oct. 2000

An American Hero by John Melegrito

[indiosbravos]

Philip thank you for this wonderful article....

[79thfoot]

Which machine gun do you think SSgt.Davila used when he won his MoH?

[indiosbravos]

Since Machinegun Platoon was mentioned and Water cooled in most of entry about him, I'll guessed Browning M1917.

Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken.

[79thfoot]

The reason I'm asking is I'm doing a 1/6th figure of then S/Sgt Davila on the day he won his MoH at Artena, Italy (May 28, 1944). Did research on the battle of Anzio to contextualize this but I've been rather frustrated at the relative lack of information about Davila specifically - no company listed, the engagement described in very general terms - it's not a lot to go on, if you know what I mean. Like, I'm not sure if he served in a rifle company, a heavy weapons company, etc. what position in the unit he held, what weapon he might have been tasked with operating or carrying - ie. was he a MG operator or was he holding an M-1 Carbine or Thompson SMG, stuff like that. Like I could pose him operating a Browning M1917 but would he have a Tommy gun and M1911 along with that?

It also frustrated me that on the Dog Faced Soldiers (3rd Division) site on the 3rd Div MoH winners, he didn't have so much as a photograph. I mean, he's like the only Asian American MoH winner for WW2, that should certainly warrant at least a pic.

On the plus side, I have got a pretty good headsculpt which I think kinda resembles him (with some hair color change and a bit of 'tanning') and I'm in the process of getting a uniform together.

Cheers,
Tom

[frank]

Follow the links I posted here may help get the info you need.

I learned about Davila again when I looked inside the book.

pinoyhistory.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=museums&action=display&thread=1929