Ray Davis ( general ) Raymond Gilbert " Ray " Davis ( January 13 , 1915 – September 3 , 2003 ) was a high ranking and highly decorated United States Marine Corps general officer who had served in World War II , the Korean War , and the Vietnam War . He was awarded the Navy Cross during World War II and the Medal of Honor during the Korean War . While serving as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps , he retired with over 33 years service in the Marine Corps on March 31 , 1972 . General Davis had a close association with Marine Corps legend , Chesty Puller , having served with Puller on Guadalcanal during World War II and in Korea during the Korean War . A middle school was built and named the " General Ray Davis Middle School " , in 2006 , in Stockbridge , Georgia where he had resided . Early years . General Davis was born on January 13 , 1915 , in Fitzgerald , Georgia , and graduated in 1933 from Atlanta Technical High School , Atlanta , Georgia . He then entered the Georgia Institute of Technology , graduating in 1938 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering . While in college he was a member of the ROTC unit . After graduation , he resigned his commission in the U . S . Army Infantry Reserve to accept appointment as a Marine Corps second lieutenant on June 27 , 1938 . Marine Corps career . 1939 – 1942 . In May 1939 , Second Lieutenant Davis completed the Marine Officers ' Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard , and began a year of service with the Marine Detachment on board the in the Pacific . He returned to shore duty in July 1940 for weapons and artillery instruction at Quantico , Virginia , and Aberdeen , Maryland . Completing the training in February 1941 , he was assigned to the 1st Antiaircraft Machine Gun Battery , 1st Marine Division at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . He returned to the United States with the unit in April , and the following month was appointed battery executive officer , serving in that capacity at Parris Island , South Carolina , and Quantico . He was promoted to first lieutenant in August 1941 . That September , he moved with the battery to the Marine Barracks , New River ( later Camp Lejeune ) , North Carolina . Upon his promotion to captain in February 1942 , he was named battery commander . World War II . During World War II , Captain Davis participated in the Guadalcanal - Tulagi landings , the capture and defense of Guadalcanal , the Eastern New Guinea and Cape Gloucester campaigns , and the Peleliu operation . Beginning in June 1942 , he embarked with his unit for the Pacific area , landing at Guadalcanal two months later . After that campaign , he was appointed Executive Officer of the 1st Special Weapons Battalion , 1st Marine Division . He was promoted to major on February 28 , 1943 . In October of that year , Major Davis took over command of the battalion and served in that capacity at New Guinea and Cape Gloucester . In April 1944 , while on Cape Gloucester , he was named Commanding Officer , 1st Battalion , 1st Marine Regiment , 1st Marine Division . Major Davis ' extraordinary heroism while commanding the 1st Battalion , 1st Marines at Peleliu in September 1944 earned him the Navy Cross and Purple Heart Medal . During the first hour of the Peleliu landing he was wounded . He refused evacuation , and on one occasion , due to heavy Marine casualties and point - blank Japanese cannon fire , the Japanese broke through , he personally rallied and led his men in fighting to re - establish defensive positions . In October 1944 , he returned to Pavuvu and was promoted to lieutenant colonel . 1944 – 1950 . Returning to the United States in November 1944 , Lieutenant Colonel Davis was assigned to Quantico as Tactical Inspector , Marine Corps Schools . He 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 . He was the 1st Brigade ' s Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 3 ( Operations and Training ) , until August 1948 , and from then until May 1949 , was Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 4 ( Logistics ) . Upon his return from Guam in May 1949 , he was named Inspector - Instructor of the 9th Marine Corps Reserve Infantry Battalion in Chicago , Illinois . He served there until August 1950 when he embarked for Korea . Korean War . In Korea , Lt . Col . Davis commanded the 1st Battalion , 7th Marines , from August to December 1950 . During this time one of his men described him as , " " . . . from Georgia and soft spoken . No gruff , no bluff . Never talked down to you and made you feel comfortable in his presence . " " " During the 1st Marine Division ' s fight to break out of the Chosin Reservoir area in North Korea during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir on December 1 , 1950 , Lt . Col . Davis led his battalion in and through fierce firefights with the Chinese army from Yudam - ni to Hagru - ri . Lt . Col . Davis led in front of his men all the way . . . marching his battalion at night over mountains in a driving snowstorm , he rescued and saved Fox Company , 2nd Battalion , 7th Marine Regiment from annihilation at the Toktong Pass . This action also opened the blocked mountain pass to Hagaru - ri allowing two trapped Marine regiments to escape and link up with the rest of the 1st division at Hagaru - ri . He was recommended for the Medal of Honor . The medal was presented to Lt . Col . Davis by President Harry S . Truman in a White House ceremony on November 24 , 1952 . Lt . Col . Davis was also awarded two Silver Star Medal s for gallantry in action , exposing himself to heavy enemy fire while leading and encouraging his men in the face of strong enemy opposition . He received the Legion of Merit with Combat " V " for exceptionally meritorious conduct and professional skill in welding the 1st Battalion , 7th Marines into a highly effective combat team . Later , as Executive Officer of the 7th Marines , from December 1950 to June 1951 , he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat " V " for his part in rebuilding the 7th regiment in Korea after the Chosin Reservoir campaign . He returned to the United States in June 1951 and was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington , D . C . 1952 – 1959 . Lt . Col . Davis served with Headquarters Marine Corps at the Pentagon until June 1954 . Lt . Col . Davis served in the Operations Subsection , G - 3 , Division of Plans and Policies , until February 1952 , when he took charge of the subsection . In April 1953 , he became Head of the Operations and Training Branch , G - 3 Division . While serving in this capacity , he was promoted to full colonel in October 1953 . The following July , Colonel Davis attended the Special Weapons Employment Course , Fleet Training Center , Norfolk , Virginia , under instruction . In September 1954 , he entered the Senior Course , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico . Upon completing the course in June 1955 , he served consecutively as Assistant Director and , later , Director , of the Senior School . In October 1957 , he was again transferred to Washington , D . C . , and served there as Assistant G - 2 , Headquarters Marine Corps , until August 1959 . 1960 – 1966 . In June 1960 , Colonel Davis completed the course at the National War College in Washington , D . C . Assigned next to Headquarters , United States European Command , in Paris , France , he served from July 1960 through June 1963 , as Chief , Analysis Branch , J - 2 , Staff of the Commander in Chief , Europe . On July 1 , 1963 , he was promoted to brigadier general while en route to the United States . Brigadier General Davis ' next assignment was in the Far East where he served as Assistant Division Commander , 3rd Marine Division , Fleet Marine Force , on Okinawa , from October 1963 to November 1964 . During this period , he also performed additional duty as Commanding General , SEATO Expeditionary Brigade , EXLIGTAS , in the Philippines , during June 1964 ; and as Commanding General , 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade , in China Sea Contingency Operations , from August 2 , to October 16 , 1964 . In December 1964 , he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps . He served as Assistant Director of Personnel until March 1965 , then served as Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 1 , until March 1968 . For his service in the latter capacity , he was awarded a second Legion of Merit medal . He was promoted to major general in November 1966 . Vietnam War . In March 1968 , Major General Davis was sent to the Republic of Vietnam and served until May 1968 as the Deputy Commanding General of the Provisional Corps in South Vietnam . He then became Commanding General , 3rd Marine Division until April 1969 . When he took command of the division , he ordered Marine units to move out of their combat bases and engage the enemy . He had noted that the manning of the bases and the defensive posture they had developed was contrary to their normally aggressive style of fighting . As part of this change in tactics he would order Operation Dewey Canyon in early 1969 to engage the NVA in the A Shau Valley . During this battle , his son " Miles Davis " , a rifle company platoon commander in K Company , 3rd Battalion , 9th Marines , was wounded in action . For his service as Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Division from May 22 , 1968 until April 14 , 1969 , he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal . The South Vietnamese Government awarded him several decorations including three Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross es . 1969 – 1972 . In May 1969 , Major General Davis was assigned duty as Deputy for Education with additional duty as Director , Education Center , Marine Corps Development and Education Command , Quantico , Virginia . After his promotion to lieutenant general on July 1 , 1970 , he was reassigned duty as Commanding General , Marine Corps Development and Education Command ( Marine Corps Combat Development Command ) . On February 23 , 1971 , President Richard M . Nixon nominated Lieutenant General Davis for appointment to the grade of general and assignment to the position of Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps . His nomination was confirmed by the Senate and he received his fourth star on March 12 , 1971 . General Davis served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps until he retired from active duty on March 31 , 1972 . Military decorations and awards . General Davis ' decorations and awards include : Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Lieutenant Colonel , U . S . Marine Corps commanding officer , 1st Battalion , 7th Marines , 1st Marine Division ( Rein . ) . Place and date : Vicinity Hagaru - ri , Korea , 1 through December 4 , 1950 . Entered service at : Atlanta , Ga . Born : January 13 , 1915 , Fitzgerald , Ga . Citation : Navy Cross citation . Citation : Post - retirement . General Davis died of a heart attack at the age of 88 on September 3 , 2003 . Interment was at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in College Park , Georgia . The Funeral Detail and Marine Corps Honor Guard was personally commanded by General Michael W . Hagee , the 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps .