R 031505Z MAY 21
ALMAR 010/21
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/INTERMENT OF GENERAL JOHN K. DAVIS, 20TH ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//
REF/A/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/R302051ZAPR21MID200000813118U//
APMN/REF A IS ALNAV 033/21//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  On 31 July 2019, the 20th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps General John K. Davis passed away.  General Davis’ family delayed his interment and will lay him to rest on 6 May 2021 at 1500 EST.  In accordance with Marine Corps policy, the National Ensign will be flown at half-mast on all USMC bases and stations on the day of interment.
2.  General Davis was born on 14 March 1927 in Hagan, New Mexico.  He graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1945, and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve, attaining the rank of private first class.  He held a B.A. degree in Social Studies from the University of New Mexico (1950), and an M.P.A. degree in Public Administration from George Washington University (1963).  He was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant in June 1950.
3.  Upon completing The Basic School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, in March 1951, General Davis was assigned as a platoon commander, 3d Amphibious Training Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California.  He was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1952, and the following October he began flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida.  He was promoted to captain in December 1953, and designated a Naval Aviator in June 1954.
4.  General Davis served as a training officer with Marine Night Fighter Squadron 542, Marine Aircraft Group 15, El Toro, California.  He remained in that billet until December 1954, when he was transferred to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, serving in Korea and Japan, as the S-4 Officer, and later, as the S-1 Officer, Marine All-Weather Fighter Squadron 513, Marine Aircraft Group 12.
5.  He returned to the United States in May 1956, as Operations Officer, Marine Air Control Squadron 4, Marine Wing Headquarters Group, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, at El Toro.  He was later reassigned and served consecutively as the Aviation Safety Officer in Marine Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 15, and Marine Attack Squadron 311.
6.  In July 1959, General Davis was transferred to the Naval Air Station, Beeville, Texas, as S-3 Officer, Training Squadron 26.  He was promoted to major in February 1961, and in July 1962, attended the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.  He completed the course in June 1963, and was ordered to Iwakuni, Japan, serving concurrently as S-3 Officer, Marine Wing Headquarters Group 1, and as Officer-in-Charge, Tactical Air Control Center, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
7.  From September 1964 to August 1967, he served as a staff officer in the Air Branch, Joint Exercise Planning Division, Headquarters, Allied Forces, Northern Europe, Oslo, Norway.  He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in January 1966.
8.  General Davis returned to the United States in September 1967, and served consecutively as Executive Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 14; Commanding Officer, Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron 224; and Commanding Officer, Marine All-Weather Attack Training Squadron 202, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, North Carolina.  He attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C., from August 1968 to June 1969, when he was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam as the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Aviation Safety Officer, and later, as Executive Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 11.
9.  He was promoted to colonel in August 1970, and a month later returned to the United States as Executive Officer, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff (Air), Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.  He remained in that billet until June 1973, when he transferred to El Toro as Commanding Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 46/Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment. He became Assistant Wing Commander, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, El Toro, following his advancement to brigadier general on 1 July 1975 and assigned duty as Commander, Marine Corps Air Bases, Western Area/Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, in June 1976.  During this tour, he was advanced to major general on 17 February 1977 and assigned duty as Commanding General, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS, El Toro.  From 6 July 1977 to 8 August 1977 he was assigned additional duty as Commanding General, 1st Marine Amphibious Force, Camp Pendleton.  On 15 February 1978, he was assigned duty as the Commanding General, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp S.D. Butler, Okinawa.  He was assigned duty as the Director of Operations, J-3, Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii on 16 June 1979.  General Davis was assigned duty as the Commanding General, FMF, Pacific, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii on 30 June 1981, and was promoted to lieutenant general on 1 July 1981.  Upon promotion to general, General Davis assumed his final assignment as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on 1 July 1983.
10.  General Davis’ contributions to the Marine Corps, and especially to Marine Corps Aviation, are too numerous to list.  Logging more than 170 combat missions in Vietnam alone, General Davis was as well-respected for his humble and approachable leadership style as he was for his combat skill and tenacity.  He truly set the standard for Marine Corps aviators and leaders.  After a highly-distinguished 40-year career in uniform, General Davis remained dedicated to our Corps and his fellow Marines.  From his active involvement with the Marine Corps Aviation Association and charity golf tournaments benefitting Camp Pendleton, to the instrumental role he played in developing The Marine Monument at Semper Fi Park, he spent a lifetime serving others and giving back to the country and community he held dear.  He was highly admired and respected, and he is sorely missed.
11.  Funeral and burial:  General Davis will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on 6 May at 1500.  The Davis family has asked in lieu of flowers for donations to the Braille Institute or the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
12.  Per the reference, all installations will half-mast the National Ensign on 6 May, the date of interment.
13.  David H. Berger, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps.//