[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      AMERICA HAS LOST A GREAT WARRIOR AND HERO: GENERAL RAY DAVIS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LINDER

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 2003

  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I mourn the 
loss of retired U.S. Marine Corps General Raymond G. Davis, who passed 
away yesterday in Atlanta, Georgia.
  With his birth on January 13, 1915, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, Raymond 
Gilbert Davis began a life of service to his fellow Americans. His 
military career, for which he is best known, commenced after his 
graduation from the Georgia School of Technology in 1933, where he 
participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps unit. In 1938, 
General Davis resigned his commission with the U.S. Army Infantry 
Reserve to accept an appointment as a U.S. Marine Corps second 
lieutenant.
  It was General Davis' bravery while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps 
that proves how this ordinary man was truly one of America's 
extraordinary heroes. During the Korean War, then Lt. Col. Davis gave 
this country his most famous demonstration of his unparalleled 
leadership during the 1st Marine Division's historic break out of the 
Chosin Reservoir area. During that campaign, in the face of treacherous 
weather conditions and overwhelming enemy numbers, he led a battalion 
of Marines to prevent the annihilation of a beleaguered Marine rifle 
company and secured a mountain pass for the safe deployment of two 
additional Marine regiments while keeping his own forces intact.
  Following this act of bravery, President Truman, who presented the 
Medal of Honor to Lt. Col. Davis on November 24, 1952, wrote, ``his 
valiant devotion to duty and unyielding fighting spirit in the face of 
almost insurmountable odds enhance and sustain the highest traditions 
of the U.S. Naval Service.''
  General Davis once jokingly told me that was the biggest mistake he 
ever made because every time Marines were trapped they sent for him. 
He, of course, was pleased to do whatever his country asked him to do.
  General Davis, who also served in World War II and the Vietnam War, 
culminated his service with an appointment as the Assistant Commandant 
to the Marine Corps. Following his service in this capacity, General 
Davis retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1972, and became America's 
most highly decorated living veteran. His 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.
  General Davis' devotion to his fellow Americans did not end with his 
retirement. General Davis was instrumental in the design, funding and 
construction of the U.S. Korean War Memorial located here in 
Washington, DC. I was there on the day it was opened. I was as proud of 
my friend on this occasion as I have ever been. It struck me that while 
he was a genuine hero as a military leader, his greatest contributions 
to his nation may have been what he did over the last 31 years for his 
fellow veterans. He loved them for their service and they revered him 
for his leadership.
  Then, General Davis played a crucial role in creating U.S.-Korea 
2000, an organization that reached out to almost 40,000 veterans of the 
Korean War in order to allow them to participate in ceremonies 
associated with the 50th anniversary of the Korean War. In my home 
state of Georgia, he devoted his time and energy to the construction of 
the Georgia War Veterans Memorial Park in Rockdale County.
  Through the years I have known Ray Davis, not only as a fellow 
veteran, but also as a friend. His courageous devotion to his comrades, 
his unyielding fight for the American veteran, and his love for and 
service to the United States itself are all examples of what it truly 
means to be an American.
  While his military service was exemplary, his post military service 
deserved just as many medals. I generally open a speech with the 
request for all veterans in the audience to stand. When they do, they 
are met, without exception, with the greatful applause of the rest in 
attendance. Ray Davis taught me that.
  When I am in a campaign I always target veterans since, as Ray always 
reminded me, I should be proud that I am one and should share that 
fact.
  When the Republican Party is in a presidential race, whether 1988, 
1992, 1996, or 2000, I could always expect Ray Davis to be escorting 
our candidate around veterans groups. Indeed, there was no military 
leader, with the possible exception of Omar Bradley, more revered by 
the troops, then my friend Ray Davis.
  Let me hasten to add that he was never satisfied with our efforts. I 
was the proud recipient of many letters and phone calls from this 
American hero reminding me of how many veterans there were and what 
patriots they were and how little we were doing to appreciate them. I 
may have disagreed with him once or twice, but I do not recall it. My 
prayers go to Willa and the family.
  America has lost a great warrior and hero. And I have lost a great 
friend. I shall miss him.

                          ____________________