Davis, Billie

MM3 BILLIE JOE DAVIS 15 September 1950 – 54

I Billie Joe Davis “BJ” was born 25 June 1931 at Bude, Mississippi. Currently my hair is gray and I have blue eyes. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Jackson, Mississippi in June 1950, and went to boot camp, Company 138, at USNTC at San Diego, California.

Along with 24 other men, including Nick Nichols,I reported on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). The date was 15 September 1950, and the EVANS was still in the moth ball fleet south of San Diego. I was assigned to M Division, After Engine Room. EVANS would be my home and work place until May 1954. For 53 years, I have thought and spoken fondly of my shipmates and my ship.

There were bad times… Sea sickness, lots of drills, same movies over and over “You know.” There were some drunks, some fights and a potato pen for a jail. At one time there was a ban on whistling on board the ship.

There were lots of good times also…Fresh bread, (Oh that smell) fresh milk after 6 months of powdered milk, and good card games. At night seeing the most stars ever! The wake of ships in the fleet leaving miles of streams of light in the water trailing them. Most of all, the friendship of some good sailors that still last today.

Now, Two Tales

1. One shipmate left his bunk to go to the head. He came back, but not to his bunk, not even on EVANS! He went to the ship tied next to us. The next day they were on their way to Hong Kong. He got clothes and liberty from that ship and when we reached Hong Kong, he got more liberty!
2. The After Engine Room bilges made a good refrigerator and hiding place for some canned hams nobody could find, except??? A little oil on top of the water and, bingo, gone, out of sight. Now try hiding a case of eggs some place. The trick is boiling them and putting them in a plastic bag. Some things an old sailor can dream of but never tell.

“A sailor I was, a sailor I’ll always be. USS FRANK E EVANS, my home it was. FRANK E. EVANS, a home it will always be. Her crew will always be a family to me. Happy dreams, all sailors and Nick, Billie Joe Davis MM3.”

“BJ” currently resides at P. O. Box 85, Bude, MS 39630. You can reach him at 601-384-2956.