Robert Harold Davidson Robert Harold “ Bob ” Davidson ( January 15 , 1919 – October 10 , 1982 ) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps who was decorated with the Silver Star for his actions as the commanding Officer of a battalion in the Battle of Iwo Jima . At age 24 , Davidson was one of the youngest officers in Marine Corps history to be assigned command of a Combat Infantry Battalion . After World War II he was a successful businessman . Early years . Davidson was born in Springfield , Massachusetts , to Ellis W . Davidson and Mildred F . ( nee Burgess ) Davidson . Ellis Davidson was a newspaperman before World War II . He was the editor of the Springfield , Massachusetts , “ Republican . ” During the war he was a Colonel in the Army of the United States ( A . U . S . ) and served as Deputy Chief , Review Branch , Bureau of Public Relations in the War Department and subsequently was Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff in the Tenth Army on Okinawa . After the war he was an editor of “ Sales Management Magazine . ” Davidson was a graduate of the Milton School , Rye , New York , ( 1932 ) and Rye High School ( 1936 ) . He was the winner of the Lord Jeffery Amherst Scholarship for New York which paid for four years tuition at Amherst College . Davidson was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree ( " cum laude " ) from Amherst ( 1940 ) with majors in biology , chemistry and political science . He was president of the Amherst Chapter of Delta Upsilon Fraternity . Marine Corps service . Military education . On November 12 , 1940 , Davidson enlisted in the U . S Marine Corps Reserve as a Private . He graduated from Officer Candidates Class , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico , Virginia , and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on February 20 , 1941 . On May 29 , 1941 , he graduated from the Reserve Officer ’ s Class , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico . In April 1944 , Davidson attended Transport Quartermaster School in Pearl Harbor , Territory of Hawaii where he received training in commercial and combat ship loading and dock management . Military training assignments . Immediately following graduation from the Reserve Officer ’ s Class , Davidson was assigned as a staff officer and instructor at the Marine Corps Schools , Quantico . He instructed and supervised instruction in basic military training and tactics at Officer Candidates Class for approximately 2½ years . He commanded training companies of 150 officer candidates during his last year of duty at Marine Corps Schools . During his assignment Davidson taught basic military tactics and techniques to classes of 50 to 200 officer candidates . Staff and command assignments in the field . In July 1943 , Davidson was detached as a Captain from Marine Corps Schools and assigned to the 4th Marine Division , commanded by Major General ( later General ) Harry Schmidt , being formed at Camp Pendleton , California . Davidson performed several staff and command roles in 2nd Battalion , 23rd Marines , and served with this unit throughout combat operations against Roi - Namur in the Battle of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands ( January 31 – February 3 , 1944 ) . Davidson was promoted to Major and assigned as Plans and Training Officer of the 2nd Battalion , 23rd Marines , and participated in the training phase prior to and during initial combat operations at the Battle of Saipan in the Marianas Islands ( June 15 – July , 1944 ) . On the fifth day of Saipan operations , Davidson was appointed battalion executive officer for the remainder of the Saipan battle and served in this capacity during the Battle of Tinian ( July 24 – August 1 , 1944 ) . In October 1944 , at the age of 25 and as a Major , Davidson assumed permanent command of 2nd Battalion , 23rd Marines . He continued in this capacity until the end of the war . As the Battalion commander , Davidson was responsible for training , supply , discipline and welfare of a unit of approximately 1 , 000 men in garrison . As a Landing Force commander , Davidson was responsible for embarking his command abroad 6 naval attack transports . On February 19 , 1945 , Davidson commanded one of seven Battalion Landing Teams in the initial assault at the Battle of Iwo Jima . Davidson ’ s command was composed of an Infantry Battalion plus attachments totaling approximately 1 , 800 men . He continued as Battalion Commander throughout the Iwo Jima operation . In October and November , 1945 , Davidson returned with and deactivated the 2nd Battalion , 23rd Marines , at Camp Pendleton . On November 10 , 1945 , after 60 months of active military services , Davidson was assigned to terminal leave and returned to his home of record in Washington D . C . . Marine Corps career appraisal . According to July 30 , 1944 , edition of " The Sunday Star " , “ Candidate for “ ironman ” of the outfit is Maj . Robert H . Davidson of 1825 Nineteenth Street , N . W . , Washington , D . C . In charge of troop deployment during the first days on Saipan when furious Jap resistance was met , the 25 - year old major went 84 hours without sleep , eating only cans of C rations , spooned out to him while he telephoned . Nerve center of a specialized landing team , he kept its scattered parts united into one hard - hitting , ever - advancing fighting force . If any one man was indispensable in those days when victory hung in the balance , Maj . Davidson was . ” In a letter to the Commandant of the Marine Corps dated August 26 , 1945 , Colonel L . B . Cresswell CO of the 23rd Marine Regiment notes : 1 . “ Forwarded . It is regretted that this officer does not desire to transfer to the regular Marine Corps since he is considered preeminently qualified by experience , mentality and temperament for a career in the military service . I consider him to be one of the outstanding officers in the Marine Corps and believe him to be capable at present , of performing the duties of any rank up to and including Lieutenant Colonel . 2 . Major Davidson ’ s experience has been unusually extensive for an officer of his rank and age , including the command of a battalion for a period of ten ( 10 ) months and a battalion landing team through all phases of the IWO JIMA campaign . His performance of duty both in combat and in training has been exemplary . 3 . Should this officer ever in the future apply for transfer to the regular Marine Corps or for active duty as a reserve officer , it is strongly recommended that such application be approved . ” Colonel T . A . Holdahl USMC , CO Marine Garrison Forces in a letter to Colonel E . W . Davidson , A . U . S . dated September 20 , 1945 wrote : “ I am sorry that your son is not staying in the service . His is considered to be the outstanding battalion commander in his division . His late regimental commander , Colonel L . B . Cresswell , spoke of him to me in the highest terms on his way through here . As you probably know , his division is coming home as a unit . ” Volunteer Reserve . Davidson was not recalled to active duty during the Korean War . However , he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on January 1 , 1951 , in the Marine Corps Reserve . Subsequently , he was promoted to Colonel on March 1 , 1958 , and transferred to the Retired List . Decorations , medals and awards . Davidson was awarded the following : Business career . In 1976 , Davidson retired as President and Chief Operating Officer of PVO International of Boonton , New Jersey , and San Francisco , California ; soybean processors and marketers . He was previously an executive of the General Foods Corporation , Administrative Vice President of the Economics Laboratory and was President of Fanny Farmer Candy Shops and Anderson - Clayton Foods Inc . Personal . On August 30 , 1947 , in New York , New York , Davidson married Anne Breeding Davidson ( July 22 , 1918 – September 30 , 2010 ) , a native of Boston , Massachusetts , and daughter of Edward Charles Breeding and Flora ( nee MacLean ) Breeding . Robert and Anne Davidson have one daughter , Anne Stowell “ Missy ” Davidson ( February 24 , 1949 – ) of Florham Park , New Jersey . Robert Davidson died suddenly on October 10 , 1982 , of a coronary occlusion in Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington , Connecticut . He was interred in East Cemetery in Litchfield , Connecticut . On September 30 , 2010 , Anne Davidson died at home in Litchfield and following a funeral service in the First Congregational Church ; United Church of Christ was also interred in East Cemetery .