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Gen. Davis, Marine Hero at Chosin Reservoir, Dies at 88
American Forces Press Service ^
| Sept. 6, 2003
| Kathleen T. Rhem
Posted on 09/07/2003 1:19:33 PM PDT by Dubya
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2003 The U.S. Marine Corps, indeed the entire country, lost an honest-to-goodness American hero Sept. 3. Retired Gen. Raymond Davis, who earned the Medal of Honor in the Korean War, died in Conyers, Ga., at the age of 88.
Davis was a hero by anybody's definition. He was the 28- year-old commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, when Chinese forces attacked at the Chosin Reservoir on Nov. 27, 1950, Thanksgiving Day. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for personally leading his men over treacherous frozen terrain to rescue a rifle company under intense enemy fire.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, Davis "spearheaded his unit in a fierce attack up the steep, ice- covered slopes in the face of withering fire and, personally leading the assault groups in a hand-to-hand encounter, drove the hostile troops from their positions."
Surrounded by the Chinese and heavily outnumbered, 10,000 Marines battled their way to safety down 40 miles of winding mountain road in sub-arctic weather. Veterans of the campaign have called themselves the "Chosin Few" ever since.
Davis had also fought in the Pacific in Word War II with the 1st Marine Division. He went on to serve as commander of the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam and retired as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps in 1972.
The retired general had a close, personal relationship with Marine Gen. James L. Jones, current commander of U.S. European Command. Davis was close to Jones' father when their families lived in France in the mid-1950s. Jones served as first-base coach on the Little League baseball team Davis managed, and their careers kept them close.
In Vietnam, Jones -- then a young lieutenant -- served a stint as then-Maj. Gen. Davis's aide. In an interview with American Forces Press Service that took place during the 2000 reunion of Chosin Reservoir veterans, Davis relayed a humorous story from the period.
When Davis called Jones to work at the division headquarters, he recalled, he received a letter from the lieutenant's uncle, then-Lt. Gen. William Jones, that read: "Ray, when you got Jim out of that rifle company back to be your aide, there were a lot of 'Hallelujahs' in the Jones family."
Jones later said he believed he was actually in more danger traveling with Davis, because the general always felt he needed to be where the action was.
"Gen. Ray Davis' passing represents the end of one of the defining eras of the United States Marine Corps," Jones said. "As a Marine, as a man, and as a husband and father, his legendary exploits during World War II, Korea and Vietnam significantly enhanced the reputation and ideals which will continue to define the Marine Corps in the 21st century."
After Davis retired from the Marines, he became a tireless advocate for Marine issues. He stayed active in the association of Chosin Reservoir veterans and often enlisted Jones' help on Marine issues while Jones was Marine commandant before being named EUCOM commander.
"His contributions to veterans and families since he retired from active duty were no less inspirational than were his contributions of the battlefields of our nation's wars," Jones said.
Davis is survived by his wife, Willa; two sons, Raymond Davis Jr. of Covington, Ga., and Gordon Miles Davis, who lives in Alabama; a daughter, Willa Kerr of Stockbridge, N.Y.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Davis' full biography is available in Who's Who in Marine Corps History.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: korea; michaeldobbs; moh; obituary; raymonddavis; semperfi; usmc
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To: SandRat
Well said thanks.
21
posted on
09/07/2003 5:28:42 PM PDT
by
Dubya
(Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Good for you, thanks.
22
posted on
09/07/2003 5:29:28 PM PDT
by
Dubya
(Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
To: All
23
posted on
09/07/2003 5:32:55 PM PDT
by
Dubya
(Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
To: snopercod; SAMWolf
![](http://skyways.lib.ks.us/museums/kng/Graphics/navymoh.jpg)
LTCOL RAYMOND G. DAVIS
Medal of Honor
1950
1/7/1
Korea
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
LIEUTENANT COLONEL RAYMOND G. DAVIS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the First Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea from 1 through 4 December 1950. Although keenly aware that the operation involved breaking through a surrounding enemy and advancing eight miles along primitive icy trails in the bitter cold with every passage disputed by a savage and determined foe, Lieutenant Colonel Davis boldly led his battalion into the attack in a daring attempt to relieve a beleaguered rifle company and to seize, hold and defend a vital mountain pass controlling the only route available for two Marine regiments in danger being cut off by numerically superior hostile forces during their redeployment to the port of Hungnam. When the battalion immediately encountered strong opposition form entrenched enemy forces commanding high ground in the path of the advance, he promptly spearheaded his unit in a fierce attack up the steep, ice-covered slopes in the face of withering fire and, personally leading the assault groups in a hand-to-hand encounter, drove the hostile troops from their positions, rested his men and reconnoitered the area under enemy fire to determine the best route for continuing the mission. Always in the thick of the fighting, Lieutenant Colonel Davis led his battalion over three successive ridges in the deep snow in continuous attacks against the enemy and, constantly inspiring and encouraging his men throughout the night, brought his unit to a point within 1500 yards of the surrounded rifle company by daybreak. Although knocked to the ground when a shell fragment struck his helmet and two bullets pierced his clothing, he arose and fought his way forward at the head of his men until he reached the isolated Marines. On the following morning, he bravely led his battalion in securing the vital mountain pass from a strongly entrenched and numerically superior hostile force, carrying all his wounded with him, including 22 litter cases and numerous ambulatory patients. despite repeated savage and heavy assaults by the enemy, he stubbornly held the vital terrain until the two regiments of the division had deployed through the pass and, on the morning of 4 December, led his battalion into Hagaru- ri intact. By his superb leadership, outstanding courage and brilliant tactical ability, Lieutenant Colonel Davis was directly instrumental in saving the beleaguered rifle company from complete annihilation and enabled the two Marine regiments to escape possible destruction. His valiant devotion to duty and unyielding fighting spirit in the face of almost insurmountable odds enhance and sustain the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
To: snippy_about_it
Heaven's angels weep and applaud .. Another Marine returns home.. Mission Accomplished,, Aye Aye, Sir!
God Bless General Davis, the Davis family, America and the US Marine Corps.
25
posted on
09/07/2003 7:16:32 PM PDT
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi... "I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." – Will Rogers)
To: Dubya
A Frozen Chosin BTTT...
To: Dubya; snopercod
![](http://www.p38assn.org/images/halfstaff.gif)
Gen. Raymond Davis
Thjanks Dubya. Thanks for the ping snopercod
27
posted on
09/07/2003 7:29:29 PM PDT
by
SAMWolf
(Women like the simple things in life: Men. .)
To: Molly Pitcher
Hiya, MP..I was in Altanta this weekend for a wedding..pleasantly surprized at the huge Obit and article in the AJC.....I heard him speak once at Quantico.....heck of a guy..
28
posted on
09/08/2003 7:16:48 AM PDT
by
ken5050
To: ken5050; LadyX; RaceBannon; SMEDLEYBUTLER
Our Young Marines had an opportunity to meet Gen Davis and support the Korean War Memorial cermonies in 2002. Gen Davis was awesome and very personable. He will be greatly missed.
29
posted on
09/08/2003 10:15:56 AM PDT
by
MudPuppy
(Young Marines -"Strengthening the Lives of America's Youth")
To: SAMWolf
Thanks for your post Sam.
30
posted on
09/08/2003 10:51:17 AM PDT
by
Dubya
(Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
To: Dubya
You're welcome Dubya.
31
posted on
09/08/2003 11:11:07 AM PDT
by
SAMWolf
(Radioactive cats have 18 half-lives.)
To: Dubya; *all
Our Military Today
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030908/capt.1063058209.davis_funeral_axl103.jpg) Gen. Mike Heagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, salutes as the U.S. flag is removed from the coffin of retired Marine Gen. Raymond G. Davis during burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in College Park, Ga., Monday, Sept. 8, 2003. Davis, one of the nation's most highly decorated military officers, died Wednesday at age 88.
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030908/capt.1063057698.davis_funeral_axl101.jpg) Mourners salute as U.S. Marine Corps pallbearers remove the body of Marine Gen. Raymond G. Davis from a caisson for burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in College Park, Ga., Monday, Sept. 8, 2003.
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030908/capt.1063059477.davis_funeral_axl107.jpg) A marine reads the stone monument following the burial of Marine Gen. Raymond G. Davis at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in College Park, Ga., Monday, Sept. 8, 2003.
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030908/capt.1063059203.davis_funeral_axl105.jpg) Widow Willa Knox Davis, right, is presented a plaque and flag by Gen. Mike Heagee, Commandant of Marine Corps, during the burial of Marine Gen. Raymond G. Davis at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in College Park, Ga., Monday, Sept. 8, 2003.
|
32
posted on
09/08/2003 4:07:21 PM PDT
by
SAMWolf
(Radioactive cats have 18 half-lives.)
To: SAMWolf
Thanks for this great update Sam.
33
posted on
09/08/2003 6:50:19 PM PDT
by
Dubya
(Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
To: Dubya
You're welcome bump.
34
posted on
09/08/2003 6:52:57 PM PDT
by
SAMWolf
(Radioactive cats have 18 half-lives.)
To: sasportas
Chesty has been dead for about 30 years.
To: ken5050
Hello back....Neat that you got to see him in person!
36
posted on
09/09/2003 5:13:08 AM PDT
by
Molly Pitcher
(Is Reality Optional?)
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