[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 361 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 361
Expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the
death on September 3, 2003, of the late General Raymond G. Davis
(United States Marine Corps, retired) and expressing the appreciation
and admiration of the House for the unwavering commitment demonstrated
by General Davis to his family, the Marine Corps, and the Nation.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 9, 2003
Mr. Deal of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Burns, Mr. Collins, Mr. Gingrey,
Mr. Isakson, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Linder, and Mr. Norwood) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed
Services
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the
death on September 3, 2003, of the late General Raymond G. Davis
(United States Marine Corps, retired) and expressing the appreciation
and admiration of the House for the unwavering commitment demonstrated
by General Davis to his family, the Marine Corps, and the Nation.
Whereas General Raymond Gilbert Davis (United States Marine Corps, retired) of
Stockbridge, Georgia, an American hero who represented the supreme
ideals of an American and a Marine, died on Wednesday, September 3,
2003, at the age of 88;
Whereas Raymond Gilbert Davis, born on January 13, 1915, in Fitzgerald, Georgia,
was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine
Corps in 1938 following graduation from the Georgia School of
Technology;
Whereas 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;
Whereas during the fighting on Peleliu, although wounded during the first hour
of the 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 reestablish defense positions;
Whereas his actions while commanding the 1st Battalion of the 1st Marines at
Peleliu in September 1944 earned him the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart
and a promotion to lieutenant colonel;
Whereas returning to the United States in November 1944, Lieutenant Colonel
Davis was assigned to the Quantico Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia,
as Tactical Inspector, Marine Corps Schools, and 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;
Whereas following other peace-time duties, in August 1950 he embarked for Korea
to command the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in the
Korean conflict and, in that capacity, heroically enabled the historic
breakout of the 1st Marine Division from an entrapment by overwhelming
numbers of Chinese soldiers at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea;
Whereas on the night before the breakout then Lieutenant Colonel Davis led his
battalion in an epic across-country fight against vastly superior
numbers of entrenched enemy soldiers, across ice- and snow-covered
terrain, in subzero temperatures to save a beleaguered rifle company and
seize a critical mountain pass that enabled the escape of two Marine
regiments, arriving three days later at the port of Hagaru-ri with every
one of his wounded Marines;
Whereas as a result of his actions in Korea, Lieutenant Colonel Davis was
awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Chosin Reservoir,
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, 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, and earned the Bronze
Star Medal with Combat ``V'' for his part in rebuilding the regiment
after the Chosin Reservoir campaign;
Whereas following service in the Korean conflict, Lieutenant Colonel Davis
served in a series of increasingly responsible staff and training
positions, while being promoted to colonel in October 1953 and brigadier
general in July 1963;
Whereas his first assignment as a general officer was in the Far East where he
served as Assistant Division Commander, 3d Marine Division, on Okinawa,
from October 1963 to November 1964;
Whereas he was assigned to Headquarters, Marine Corps, from December 1964 until
March 1968 and during that service was awarded a second Legion of Merit
and was promoted to major general;
Whereas when ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in March 1968, Major General
Davis served briefly as Deputy Commanding General, Provisional Corps,
and then became Commanding General, 3d Marine Division where he was
awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and three personal decorations
by the Vietnamese Government for service in the latter capacity from May
2, 1968 until April 14, 1969;
Whereas 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, and upon his promotion to lieutenant general on July 1, 1970,
he was assigned as Commanding General, Marine Corps Development and
Education Command;
Whereas 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 and, after confirmation by the
Senate for service in that position, he received his fourth star upon
assuming those duties on March 12, 1971;
Whereas upon his retirement on March 31, 1972, after more than 33 years of
active commissioned service, he ended his military career as Assistant
Commandant of the Marine Corps, the second highest ranking Marine;
Whereas General Davis' 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, numerous campaign and
service medals, and numerous foreign decorations;
Whereas following retirement from his beloved Corps, General Davis directed the
Georgia Chamber of Commerce for several years and later took on the
challenge of design, funding, and dedication of the Korean War Veterans
Memorial in Washington, DC;
Whereas General Davis continued to work in support of issues concerning the
national interest, including a visit to North Korea in an effort to
persuade that government to allow more travel and to become more active
in identifying missing American soldiers; and
Whereas General Raymond G. Davis is survived by his wife of 61 years, Knox
Heafner Davis, two sons Raymond Gil Davis Jr. of Covington, Georgia, and
Gordon Miles Davis of Seminole, Alabama, a daughter Willa Kerr of
Stockbridge, Georgia, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) has learned with profound sorrow of the death of
General Raymond G. Davis (United States Marine Corps, retired)
on September 3, 2003, and extends its condolences to his
family; and
(2) recognizes and expresses its appreciation and
admiration for the unwavering commitment demonstrated by
General Davis to his family, the Marine Corps, and the Nation.
Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit an
enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of General Raymond G.
Davis.
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