[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21275]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING GENERAL RAYMOND G. DAVIS, SR.

  (Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart, as the 
State of Georgia and indeed the entire Nation suffered the loss of a 
true hero. Two days ago, at the age of 88, General Ray Davis passed 
away in a Georgia hospital.
  Mr. Speaker, after graduating with honors from Georgia Tech with a 
degree in chemical engineering in 1938, Raymond G. Davis, Sr. joined 
the Marine Corps with a commission as a second lieutenant. He began a 
long and distinguished service to our Nation during World War II when 
he earned a Purple Heart and Navy Cross for actions in the Peleliu and 
Palau Island operations. In 1952 he was rewarded the Congressional 
Medal of Honor by President Truman for his part in the Marine 
Division's historic fight to break out of the Chosin area during the 
Korean War.
  Overall during his military career, General Davis was awarded, among 
others, the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Service 
Medals, two Silver Stars, two Legion of Merits, one Bronze Star and one 
Purple Heart. During the Vietnam conflict, he had various military 
assignments and duties including Commander of the 3rd Marine Division, 
for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, as well as 
three personal medals from the Vietnamese government.
  He was promoted to lieutenant general shortly after returning from 
Vietnam and became Commanding General Marine Corps Development and 
Education Command. President Nixon nominated him for the grade of 
general and reassigned him to the position of Assistant Commandant of 
the Marine Corps.
  Upon receiving his fourth star and retiring in 1972, General Davis 
returned to Georgia and continued to serve his home State and the 
Nation. He ran the Georgia Chamber of Commerce for several years, 
attracting business and employment to our great State.
  Mr. Speaker, our entire Nation benefitted from General Davis's 
service, and his passing touches us all today. My thoughts and prayers 
are with his wife, three children, seven grandchildren, and two great 
grandchildren.

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