[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E391-E392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING GENERAL RAYMOND G. DAVIS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 17, 1998

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the American 
Legion on the occasion of the 79th Anniversary of its founding and to 
pay homage to General Raymond G. Davis, Medal of Honor recipient and 
retired Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. I 
recently had the honor of introducing General Davis as the keynote 
speaker at the recent birthday celebration of the Clayton County 
American Post 258. I enter those remarks in the Congressional Record in 
honor of the American Legion and General Ray Davis.

   The Honorable Mac Collins 79th Anniversary of the American Legion 
  Clayton County American Legion Post 258, March 13, 1998, Jonesboro, 
                                Georgia

       Good evening. It is a real pleasure to be with so many 
     friends here tonight. Thank you Lamar Miller for your kind 
     introductory remarks and for giving me the honor of 
     introducing General Ray Davis, our distinguished speaker this 
     evening. I also want to recognize Clayton County Sheriff 
     Stanley Tuggle, State Representative Greg Hecht, and State 
     Representative Frank Bailey and his wife, Frances. I have 
     known and respected Frank for many years. He is a friend and 
     does a fine job for the people of Clayton County in the 
     Georgia House of Representatives.
       And, I want to recognize Mr. James Hugh Lindsey. I had the 
     pleasure of first meeting Mr. Lindsey at a celebration 
     arranged by Mr. Miller on the occasion of his 101st birthday. 
     Mr. Lindsey recently celebrated his 102nd birthday, and I 
     know everyone here this evening joins with me in wishing him 
     many more to come.
       We are here tonight to celebrate and honor the 79th 
     anniversary of the founding of the American Legion. When Mr. 
     Miller told me tonight's dinner was being held to celebrate 
     the founding of the American Legion, I wanted to learn more 
     about the rich history of your organization.
       It all began in March 1919 when members of the American 
     Expeditionary Force in Europe held the first caucus in Paris 
     and created an organization for those who have served their 
     country. The official name for the Legion was adopted in May 
     1919 at a caucus meeting in St. Louis. In September 1919, the 
     organization was officially chartered by the United States 
     Congress. And, in November 1919, the Legion held its first 
     annual convention in Minneapolis where its members adopted 
     the organization's constitution and set its future course.
       From that handful of soldiers in Paris and the founding 
     members at the first convention in Minneapolis, the American 
     Legion today has grown to over 2.9 million members. The 
     programs you sponsor and support touch the lives of so many 
     of your fellow citizens. You are helping to mold the harts 
     and minds of our nation's youth with your work with the Boy 
     Scouts of America, your sponsorship of Boys State and Boys 
     Nation, American Legion Baseball, your educational 
     scholarship programs, the Child Welfare Foundation, your 
     Children and Youth Programs and many, many more.
       Through your Citizens Flag Alliance, the Legion is working 
     to ``protect our history, our pride, our honor and our 
     flag.'' And, the American Legion provides valuable input to 
     Congress in writing and passing laws that protect our 
     national security and enhance the lives of all who have 
     served their country. As a Member of Congress, I thank you 
     and your fellow Legionnaires for all that you have given, and 
     continue to give, to your nation.
       While I could continue speaking on the wonderful history of 
     the Legion, it is my honor to introduce your keynote speaker 
     who, I believe, best represents the ideals on which the 
     American Legion was founded and for which it stands today. 
     Raymond G. Davis is a son of Georgia. He was born on January 
     13, 1915 in Fitzgerald, the son of Zelma and Raymond Roy 
     Davis. Following his 1938 graduation from Georgia School of 
     Technology with Honors, Ray Davis began a 33-year career with 
     the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant.
       During that distinguished career, Ray Davis rose from the 
     rank of second lieutenant to become a four-star general and 
     Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. While

[[Page E392]]

     General Davis may be best known as a recipient of the Medal 
     of Honor while serving as a Battalion Commander during the 
     Korean War, he first saw action in some of the most brutal 
     fighting of World War II. He was part of the Marine forces 
     that participated in the capture and defense of Guadalcanal 
     and the Eastern New Guinea and Cape Gloucester campaigns.
       While commanding the 1st Marine Division of the 1st 
     Battalion in September of 1944, then Major Davis was wounded 
     during the first hour of the landing operations. He refused 
     to leave his men and continued to direct the Battalion in 
     establishing defense positions and gaining control of the 
     island. For his actions, Major Davis was awarded the Purple 
     Heart and the Navy Cross.
       As a Lieutenant Colonel in Korea from 1950 to 1951, 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. Against overwhelming odds, he 
     led his Battalion in a four-day battle which saved a Marine 
     rifle company and opened a mountain pass for the escape of 
     two trapped Marine regiments. President Harry Truman 
     presented Colonel Davis with the Medal of Honor in ceremonies 
     at the White House on November 24, 1952.
       In 1968, then Major General Ray Davis was named Deputy 
     Commanding General of forces in his third and final 
     conflict--the Vietnam War. During that tour, General Davis 
     was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal--the first of two 
     such medals he received. In 1971, General Davis was nominated 
     by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate as 
     the Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. 
     He served in this position until his retirement in 1972.
       In addition to the Medal of Honor, two Distinguished 
     Service Medals, the Navy Cross and Purple Heart, General 
     Davis was awarded two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, six 
     Bronze Stars and many other awards from allied governments. 
     Additionally, the forces in which he served received five 
     Presidential Unit Citations, three Navy Unit Commendations 
     and 15 Battle Stars.
       After 33 years of traveling the world, seeing action in 
     three wars and serving as one of the nation's highest 
     military officers, Ray Davis could have settled into a 
     comfortable retirement on his farm here in Georgia. But this 
     was not the way for Ray Davis--a man of life-long action and 
     deep commitment to serving others.
       Let me quote General Davis on leaving the Marines: ``As for 
     retirement being difficult, I had an ideal transition in that 
     I was retired from the Corps at 10 o'clock in the morning in 
     Washington, and I was in my Atlanta office at 2 o'clock that 
     afternoon in charge of the whole state of the Georgia Chamber 
     of Commerce.'' Ray Davis had returned home as Executive Vice 
     President for one of the premier business organizations in 
     Georgia.
       General Davis went on to lead the Georgia Chamber through 
     an exciting time of growth in our state. He later left the 
     Chamber to become President of RGMW, a family-owned land 
     development corporation. General Davis also gave time to 
     activities that are close to his heart. He has served as a 
     trustee in the Valley Forge Military Academy, Chairman of the 
     Trustees for the Marine Military Academy and on the Board of 
     Visitors for Berry College. He was appointed by President 
     Ronald Reagan to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory 
     Board and he is active in many Marine Corps organizations.
       Today, General Davis and his wife of over 50 years, Knox, 
     live in Rockdale County. They enjoy traveling and staying 
     active in the many organizations in which General Davis still 
     serves. They also enjoy having more time for their three 
     children, Raymond Jr., Gordon and Willa, and their 
     grandchildren. Tonight I have touched on the highlights of 
     the extraordinary life and career of General Davis. For more 
     details on this incredible man, I would encourage you to read 
     ``The Story of Ray Davis.'' In fact, we may be able to 
     prevail on the General to autograph copies of his book this 
     evening.
       In closing, I want to leave you with a quote from Army 
     General Creighton W. Abrams Jr., commander of U.S. forces in 
     Vietnam, to Marine Commandant General Leonard F. Chapman Jr. 
     General Abrams said of Ray Davis, ``. . . of the 50 or so 
     division commanders I have known in Vietnam, General Davis 
     has no peer. He's the best.''
       Ray Davis truly does represent the best of American 
     society--soldier, scholar, a man of deeply held beliefs and 
     commitments, and a devoted husband and father. Words cannot 
     express how proud and honored I am to know General Ray Davis. 
     Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a true American hero--
     General Raymond G. Davis.

     

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