Virginia Archives Month: Week 3!

Welcome to the third adventure in our Virginia Archives Month series! The U.S. Navy celebrated their 250th birthday on October 13, 2025 at the Virginia War Memorial. In honor of their celebration, this week’s post will focus on photographs from Navy veterans.

Anna Mangum Cope and the Korean War

Although nurses were employed by the U.S. Navy during the Spanish-American War 1898, it was not until May 1908 that Congress authorized the establishment of the Navy Nurse Corps. During World War II, more than 11,000 women served in the Navy Nurse Corps. The Anna Cleo Mangum Cope Papers, ACC 1104 provides us a candid view into the life and service of these nurses.

Portrait of Anna C. Mangum

Born on 24 February 1922 in North Carolina, Anna C. Mangum attended Appalachian University for one year before she decided to attend Watts School of Nursing, Durham Regional Hospital in 1941. In July 1943, Cope was admitted into the Cadet Nurse Corps. She graduated from the program in October 1944 and joined the Navy Nurse Corps. By 1945, Cope worked as a nurse at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. The outbreak of the Korean War led to the Navy recalling Cope and other Navy Reserve nurses. Cope stationed to the US Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan.

Hear more about Cope’s experience in Yokosuka, Japan below. Anna

USS LST 672 and Arthur B. Davies, III

Arthur Beverly “Tom” Davies III

Arthur Beverly “Tom” Davies III was born on June 29, 1924, in Philadelphia, PA but grew up in Clifton Forge, VA. While attending the University of Virginia, Davies was called to active duty during World War II. In the Navy, he served as an officer aboard the USS LST 672 in the Pacific theater. He participated in landings on Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa.

On Friday, 20 October 1944, Davies and the crew of USS LST-672 entered Leyte Gulf. At 0842, they began landing operations unloading Army combat personnel, Landing Vehicle, Tracked (LVTs), six-wheel amphibious trucks (DUKWs). During the operation, USS LST-672 continued to unload cargo at various points. After the war, Davies and the crew of USS LST-672 performed occupation duty in the Far East until 1946. The USS LST-672 earned two battle stars for service during World War II.

USS LST 672 on launch day, May 1944

The photographs in the Arthur B. Davies, III Papers showcase the USS LST-672 and its crew at various stages during World War II.