GENERAL
RAYMOND G. DAVIS, who earned the Medal of Honor in Korea
in 1950, died 3 September 2003 at age 88. He retired from active
duty March 31, 1972 after more than 33 years on active duty. His
last assignment was as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
from March 12,1971 until March 31, 1972.
As a lieutenant
colonel in Korea, General Davis earned the Nation's highest decoration
for heroism during the 1st Marine Division's historic fight to break
out of the Chosin Reservoir area. There, against overwhelming odds,
he led his battalion in a terrific four-day battle which saved a
rifle company from annihilation and opened a mountain pass for the
escape of two trapped Marine regiments. The award was presented
to him by President Truman in a White House ceremony on November
24, 1952.
Raymond Gilbert
Davis was born on January 13, 1915 in Fitzgerald, Georgia, and graduated
in 1933 from Atlanta Technical High School, Atlanta, Georgia. He
then entered the Georgia School of Technology, graduating in 1938
with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. While
in college he was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps
unit. After graduation, he resigned his commission in the U. S.
Army Infantry Reserve to accept appointment as a Marine second lieutenant
on June 27, 1938.
In May 1939,
Lieutenant Davis completed the Marine Officers' Basic School at
the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and began a year of service with the
Marine Detachment on board the USS Portland in the Pacific. He returned
to shore duty in July 1940 for weapons and artillery instruction
at Quantico, Virginia, and Aberdeen, Maryland.
Completing the
training in February 1941, he was assigned to the 1st Antiaircraft
Machine Gun Battery of the 1st Marine Division at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba. He returned to the United States with the unit in April, and
the following month was appointed battery executive officer, serving
in that capacity at Parris Island, South Carolina, and Quantico.
He was promoted to first lieutenant in August 1941. That September,
he moved with the battery to the Marine Barracks, New River (later
Camp Lejeune), North Carolina. Upon his promotion to captain in
February 1942, he was named battery commander.
During World
War II, he participated in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings, the
capture and defense of Guadalcanal, the Eastern New Guinea and Cape
Gloucester campaigns, and the Peleliu operation. Beginning in June
1942, he embarked with his unit for the Pacific area, landing at
Guadalcanal two months later. After that campaign, he was appointed
Executive Officer of the 1st Special Weapons Battalion, 1st Marine
Division.
In October 1943,
Major Davis took over command of the battalion and served in that
capacity at New Guinea and Cape Gloucester. In April 1944, while
on Cape Gloucester, he was named Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion,
1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. Major Davis' action while commanding
the 1st Battalion at Peleliu, in September 1944 earned him the Navy
Cross and the Purple Heart. Although wounded during the first hour
of the Peleliu landing, he refused evacuation to remain with his
men; and, on one occasion, when heavy Marine casualties and the
enemy's pointblank cannon fire had enabled the Japanese to break
through, he personally rallied and led his men in fighting to reestablish
defense positions.
In October 1944, he returned to Pavuvu and was promoted to lieutenant
colonel.
Returning to
the United States in November 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Davis was
assigned to Quantico as Tactical Inspector, Marine Corps Schools.
He was named Chief of the Infantry Section, Marine Air-Infantry
School, Quantico, in May 1945, and served in that post for two years
before returning to the Pacific area in July 1947 to serve with
the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade on Guam. He was the 1st Brigade's
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (Operations and Training), until August
1948, and from then until May 1949, was Assistant Chief of Staff,
G-4 (Logistics). Upon his return from Guam in May 1949, he was named
Inspector-Instructor of the 9th Marine Corps Reserve Infantry Battalion
in Chicago, Illinois. He served there until August 1950 when he
embarked for Korea.
In Korea, Lieutenant
Colonel Davis commanded the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, from August
to December 1950. Besides receiving the Medal of Honor for action
during that period, he twice earned the Silver Star Medal by exposing
himself to heavy enemy fire while leading and encouraging his men
in the face of strong enemy opposition. He also received the Legion
of Merit with Combat “V” for exceptionally meritorious
conduct and professional skill in welding the 1st Battalion into
a highly effective combat team. Later, as Executive Officer of the
7th Marines, from December 1950 to June 1951, Lieutenant Colonel
Davis earned the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V” for
his part in rebuilding the regiment after the Chosin Reservoir campaign.
He returned from Korea in June 1951.
Ordered to Headquarters
Marine Corps, Washington, D. C., Lieutenant Colonel Davis served
in the Operations Subsection, G-3, Division of Plans and Policies,
until February 1952, when he took charge of the subsection. In April
1953, he became Head of the Operations and Training Branch, G-3
Division. While serving in this capacity, he was promoted to colonel
in October 1953. The following July Colonel Davis attended the Special
Weapons Employment Course, Fleet Training Center, Norfolk, Virginia,
under instruction. In September 1954, he entered the Senior Course,
Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. Upon completing the course in June
1955, he served consecutively as Assistant Director and, later,
Director, of the Senior School.
In October
1957, he was again transferred to Washington, D. C., and served
there as Assistant G-2, Headquarters Marine Corps, until August
1959. The following June, he completed the course at the National
War College in Washington. Assigned next to Headquarters, United
States European Command, in Paris, France, he served from July 1960
through June 1963, as Chief, Analysis Branch, J-2, Staff of the
Commander in Chief, Europe.
On July 1,
1963, he was promoted to brigadier general while en route to the
United States. General Davis' next assignment was in the Far East
where he served as Assistant Division Commander, 3d Marine Division,
FMF, on Okinawa, from October 1963 to November 1964. During this
period, he also performed additional duty as Commanding General,
SEATO Expeditionary Brigade, EXLIGTAS, in the Philippines, during
June 1964; and as Commanding General, 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade,
in China Sea Contingency Operations, from August 2 to October 16,
1964. In December 1964, he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps.
He served as Assistant Director of Personnel until March 1965, then
served as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, until March 1968. For his
service in the latter capacity, he was awarded a second Legion of
Merit. He was promoted to major general in November 1966.
Ordered to the
Republic of Vietnam, General Davis served briefly as Deputy Commanding
General, Provisional Corps, then became Commanding General, 3d Marine
Division. For his service in the latter capacity from May 22, 1968
until April 14, 1969, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal,
and three personal decorations by the Vietnamese Government.
Upon his return
to the United States in May 1969, he was assigned duty as Deputy
for Education with additional duty as Director, Education Center,
Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia.
After his promotion to lieutenant general, July 1, 1970, he was
reassigned duty as Commanding General, Marine Corps Development
and Education Command.
On February
23, 1971, President Nixon nominated General Davis for appointment
to the grade of general and assignment to the position of Assistant
Commandant of the Marine Corps. His nomination was confirmed by
the Senate and he received his fourth star on assuming those duties,
March 12, 1971. For his service as Deputy for Education and subsequently
as Commanding General, Marine Corps Development and Education Command,
Quantico, Virginia, during the period May 1969 to March 1971, and
as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, from March 1971 to
March 1972, he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished
Service Medal.
A complete list
of his medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor; the Navy
Cross; the Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star in lieu of
a second award; the Silver Star Medal with Gold Star in lieu of
a second award; the Legion of Merit with Combat “V" and
Gold Star in lieu of a second award; the Bronze Star Medal with
Combat "V"; the Purple Heart; the Presidential Unit Citation
with four bronze stars indicative of second through fifth awards;
the Navy Unit Commendation; the American Defense Service Medal with
Fleet clasp; the American Campaign Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Medal with one silver star in lieu of five bronze stars; the World
War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with one
bronze star; the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars; the
Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars; the National Order
of Vietnam, 4th Class; the National Order of Vietnam, 4th Class;
the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with three Palms; two Korean Presidential
Unit Citations; the United Nations Service Medal; and the Republic
of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Remembrances
Gen. Ray Davis with M Co. 3/5 Marines Dan Hignight (left)
and Frank Pacello (right)
