IV 

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; 
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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 
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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 Com-
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mander, 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; 
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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 greatgrandchildren: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) has learned with profound sorrow of the 

3 death of General Raymond G. Davis (United States 
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1 Marine Corps, retired) on September 3, 2003, and 

2 extends its condolences to his family; and 

3 (2) recognizes and expresses its appreciation 

4 and admiration for the unwavering commitment 

5 demonstrated by General Davis to his family, the 

6 Marine Corps, and the Nation. 

7 SEC. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives 

8 shall transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the 

9 family of General Raymond G. Davis.

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