Ship's Serviceman Second Class Davis served aboard the destroyer USS Brush (DD-745) in Korean waters. He was fatally burned when his ship struck an enemy mine near Tanchon, North Korea on 26 September 1950. He died on 28 September 1950.

Davis was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.