George Arthur Davidson

The only child of George R. and Stella Davison, George was born December 22, 1922 in Twin Falls, Idaho (population of 8,324 as of the 1920 census).  He appeared regularly in the hometown newspapers as an outstanding high school athlete in basketball, track, and baseball.  He was something of a small-town hero, and the press reported regularly on his exploits at WSC and his progression in military servicer. 

Davison enrolled at WSC in Fall 1940.  All evidence points to his being a well-known and popular leader in the student body.  He played varsity baseball and basketball at WSC, starring in the latter sport under legendary Cougar coach Jack Friel.  As a junior, Davison was active in the leadership of his class, serving on the executive council and chairing the Junior Prom committee. He was a member of the Grew “W” letterman’s club and was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. 

Davison left WSC after his junior year and enlisted in the Army in June 1943.  Following basic training, he successfully completed Officer Candidate School and commissioned as a second lieutenant.  For much of 1944 Davison returned to help lead the Junior ROTC unit at WSC, presumably a rewarding experience for the former Cougar.  In January 1945, helping to fill the army’s intense need for manpower for the final assault on Nazi Germany, Davison shipped out in January or February 1945 and was assigned to the veteran Third Infantry Division.  He was killed in the assault on the German border city of Zweibrücken on March 18, 1945, just weeks after joining his unit and only seven weeks before the war’s end.  

Davison is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold (Moselle), France.  He was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart.  He was one of 29 Gold Stars – fallen soldiers – from Twin Falls.  As a minor community celebrity and only child, his death would have been especially poignant for both his hometown and his family.