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ALMAR 053/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/DEATH OF GENERAL RAYMOND G. DAVIS, FORMER ASSISTANT COMMANDANT
OF THE MARINE CORPS//
RMKS/ 1.  IT IS WITH DEEP REGRET THAT I ANNOUNCE TO THE MARINE CORPS
THE DEATH ON 3 SEPTEMBER 2003 OF GENERAL RAYMOND G. DAVIS, U.S.
MARINE CORPS, RETIRED, WHO SERVED AS THE ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE
MARINE CORPS FROM 12 MARCH 1971 UNTIL 31 MARCH 1972.
2.  GENERAL DAVIS WAS BORN 13 JANUARY 1915, IN FITZGERALD, GEORGIA.  
AFTER GRADUATING FROM ATLANTA TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL, HE ENTERED THE
GEORGIA SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY WHERE HE EARNED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
DEGREE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING.  WHILE IN COLLEGE, HE WAS A MEMBER
OF THE RESERVE OFFICER S TRAINING CORPS UNIT.  HE RESIGNED HIS
COMMISSION FROM THE U.S. ARMY INFANTRY RESERVE TO ACCEPT APPOINTMENT
AS A MARINE SECOND LIEUTENANT ON 27 JUNE 1938.  HE COMPLETED THE
MARINE OFFICER S BASIC SCHOOL AT THE PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD IN MAY
1939 AFTER WHICH HE COMPLETED A YEAR OF SERVICE WITH THE MARINE
DETACHMENT ON BOARD THE USS PORTLAND IN THE PACIFIC.  HE RETURNED
FOR SHORE DUTY IN JULY 1940 FOR WEAPONS AND ARTILLERY INSTRUCTION AT
QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, AND ABERDEEN, MARYLAND.  AFTER COMPLETING THE
TRAINING IN FEBRUARY OF 1941, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST
ANTIAIRCRAFT MACHINE GUN BATTERY OF THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION AT
GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA.  ONE MONTH AFTER RETURNING TO THE UNITED
STATES WITH HIS UNIT, HE WAS APPOINTED BATTERY EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY AT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND
QUANTICO, VIRGINIA.  HE WAS PROMOTED TO FIRST LIEUTENANT IN AUGUST
OF 1941.  IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR, HE MOVED WITH THE BATTERY TO
MARINE BARRACKS, NEW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA.  IN FEBRUARY 1942, HE
WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN AND NAMED THE BATTERY COMMANDER.  DURING
WORLD WAR II 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, HE 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.  HIS ACTIONS 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 POINT-BLANK CANNON FIRE
HAD ENABLED THE JAPANESE TO BREAK THROUGH, HE PERSONALLY RALLIED AND
LED HIS MEN IN FIGHTING TO RE-ESTABLISH DEFENSIVE POSITIONS.  IN
OCTOBER 1944, HE RETURNED TO PAVUVU AND WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT
COLONEL.  RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES IN NOVEMBER 1944, HE 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, HE COMMANDED THE 1ST BATTALION,
7TH MARINES FROM AUGUST TO DECEMBER 1950.  HE RECEIVED THE MEDAL OF
HONOR FOR HEROIC ACTION DURING 1ST MARINE DIVISION S HISTORIC FIGHT
OUT OF THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR.  IN ADDITION TO THE MEDAL OF HONOR, HE
EARNED THE SILVER STAR MEDAL TWICE 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 FORMING
THE 1ST BATTALION INTO A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE COMBAT TEAM.  LATER, AS
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF 7TH MARINES FROM DECEMBER 1950 TO JUNE 1951, HE
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 AND WAS ORDERED TO HEADQUARTERS
MARINE CORPS, WASHINGTON, DC, WHERE HE 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 HE 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 DIRECTOR OF THE SENIOR SCHOOL.  
IN OCTOBER 1957, HE WAS AGAIN TRANSFERRED TO WASHINGTON, DC 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, 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 2 AUGUST TO 16 OCTOBER 1964.  IN
DECEMBER 1964, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS WHERE HE
SERVED AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL UNTIL MARCH 1965, THEN 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 22 MAY 1968 UNTIL 14 APRIL
1969, THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AWARDED HIM THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
MEDAL AND THREE PERSONAL DECORATIONS.  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 ON 1 JULY 1970, HE WAS REASSIGNED AS THE COMMANDING
GENERAL, MARINE CORPS DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION COMMAND.  ON 23 FEBRUARY
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.  THE SENATE CONFIRMED HIS NOMINATION AND HE
RECEIVED HIS FOURTH STAR UPON ASSUMING THOSE DUTIES ON 12 MARCH 1971.  
FOR HIS SERVICE AS DEPUTY FOR EDUCATION AND SUBSEQUENTLY AS COMMANDING
GENERAL, MARINE CORPS DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION COMMAND, QUANTICO,
VIRGINIA FROM 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.
3.  A COMPLETE LIST OF GENERAL DAVIS  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, 5TH 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.
4.  THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR GENERAL DAVIS WILL BE HELD AT 1400 ON
8 SEPTEMBER 2003, AT THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN CONYERS,
GEORGIA.  THE INTERMENT WILL FOLLOW AT FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL GARDENS IN
COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA.
5.  ALL BASES AND STATIONS ARE DIRECTED TO MAINTAIN HALF-STAFF OF THE
NATIONAL ENSIGN UNTIL SUNSET ON 8 SEPTEMBER 2003.
6.  M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE
CORPS.//