[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11860-S11861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 232--EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE SENATE 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 SENATE FOR THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT DEMONSTRATED 
    BY GENERAL DAVIS TO HIS FAMILY, THE MARINE CORPS, AND THE NATION

  Mr. MILLER (for himself, Mr. Burns, Mr. Chambliss, and Mr. Corzine) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 232

       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

[[Page S11861]]

     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,

     SECTION 1. CONDOLENCES AND RECOGNITION.

       The Senate--
       (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. TRANSMITTAL OF RESOLUTION.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit an enrolled copy 
     of this resolution to the family of General Raymond G. Davis.

                          ____________________