Kearny hero killed in Korean War receives long-overdue silver star recognition
The ceremony was led by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1302 and local community leaders, who say the recognition corrects a decades-long omission in Davidson’s military record in his hometown.
More Stories
A Kearny soldier killed in action during the Korean War is finally being recognized for his heroism more than 70 years after his death.
Private First Class James G. Davidson was honored this Memorial Day weekend with the installation of a new Silver Star grave marker at Arlington Cemetery in Kearny.
The ceremony was led by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1302 and local community leaders, who say the recognition corrects a decades-long omission in Davidson’s military record in his hometown.
Davidson was killed in action in 1952 after reportedly manning a machine gun and defending his platoon during combat.
“He heroically saved his platoon by manning a machine gun and defending his platoon against the enemy, unfortunately succumbing to the wounds and being possibly awarded a Silver Star,” said David Crenshaw, commander of VFW Post 1302.
Crenshaw said the Silver Star — the third-highest military decoration for valor — was never properly reflected in Davidson’s hometown memorials or grave marker.
His surviving niece, Bonnie Raad, says the recognition means everything to the family.
"Our family called him Sunny, and he had that disposition. He was a very happy young man, just that at nineteen years old, barely twenty, that he had the fortitude to stay at his position and do what he did is incredible," Raad said.
"For 74 years, this went unrecognized,” Crenshaw said. “He was given a marker, never giving the family a flag, and the marker did not reflect that he was a Silver Star recipient.”
Crenshaw said it took nearly a year to coordinate the effort, involving community members, elected officials like Congresswoman Nellie Pou, and veterans organizations.
"It is an important day for Kearny because it took more than 70 years for this recognition," Pou said. "He's the son of Kearny, one of which we are all super proud of."
“We tried to get it done last Memorial Day, and then we realized the uphill battle we were facing,” Crenshaw said.
He added that the effort reflects a broader mission of the VFW.
“As long as there’s wars and there’s conflict and there’s missing men and women, we are going to make sure that we write this history,” Crenshaw said.
Historian and former Kearny resident Ronald Woods helped uncover Davidson’s full military record while researching local service members.
“Private First Class Davidson was recognized as killed in action during the Korean War, but he was never recognized for his combat valor,” Woods said. “There was no recognition in town memorials or on his grave marker beyond that.”
Woods said archival research uncovered a photo of Davidson’s father receiving his son’s posthumous Silver Star in 1952 on Governors Island in New York, confirmation of the award that had never been fully acknowledged locally.
“That confirmed to me that this man, at the age of 20, had received the Silver Star that was really never recognized in his hometown,” Woods said.
He called the moment deeply meaningful for the community and Davidson’s family.
“It’s very gratifying,” Woods said. “It’s important for soldiers who fought with distinction and gave their lives for our country to be recognized, particularly by their hometown.”
Woods and Raad also noted that Davidson’s original grave marker only reflected his Purple Heart and did not include his Silver Star citation, and that his name was missing from local memorials honoring distinguished service members.
Organizers say the monument maker donated the marker, the cemetery waived fees, and the ceremony took place over Memorial Day weekend — a moment they say underscores the community’s commitment to honoring its fallen heroes.
