John K . Davis General John K . Davis ( born March 14 , 1927 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps four - star general . Davis , a Vietnam War veteran and naval aviator , served as the Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 1977 – 1978 ) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing ( 1978 - 1978 ) . His final assignment was as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1 , 1983 to June 1 , 1986 . Biography . Early life and Military career . John K . Davis was born on March 14 , 1927 , in Hagon , New Mexico . He graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1945 , and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve , attaining the rank of private first class prior to being released to inactive duty . He holds a B . A . degree in Social Studies from the University of New Mexico ( 1950 ) , and an M . P . A . degree in Public Administration from George Washington University ( 1963 ) . He was commissioned a U . S . Marine Corps second lieutenant in June 1950 . Upon completing The Basic School , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico , Virginia , in March 1951 , Davis was assigned as a platoon commander , 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion , Camp Pendleton , Calif . He was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1952 , and the following October he began flight training at the Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida . He was promoted to captain in December 1953 , and designated a Naval Aviator in June 1954 . Davis served as a training officer with VMF ( N ) - 542 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California . He remained in that billet until December 1954 , when he was transferred to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , serving in Korea and Japan , as the S - 4 Officer , and later , as the S - 1 Officer , Marine All - Weather Fighter Squadron 513 , Marine Aircraft Group 12 . He returned to the United States in May 1956 , as Operations Officer , Marine Air Control Squadron 4 , Marine Wing Headquarters Group , 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing , at MCAS El Toro . He was later reassigned and served consecutively as the aviation safety officer in VMA - 121 , MAG - 15 , and VMA - 311 . Vietnam War . In July 1959 , General Davis was transferred to the Naval Air Station Beeville , Texas , as S - 3 Officer , Training Squadron 26 . He was promoted to major in February 1961 , and in July 1962 , attended the Air Command and Staff College , Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama . He completed the course in June 1963 , and was ordered to MCAS Iwakuni , Japan , serving concurrently as S - 3 Officer , Marine Wing Headquarters Group 1 , and as Officer - in - Charge , Tactical Air Control Center , 1st Marine Aircraft Wing . From September 1964 to August 1967 , he served as a staff officer in the Air Branch , Joint Exercise Planning Division , Headquarters , Allied Forces , Northern Europe , Oslo , Norway . He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in January 1966 . Davis returned to the United States in September 1967 , and served consecutively as Executive Officer for Marine Aircraft Group 14 , Commanding Officer of VMFA ( AW ) - 224 and Commanding Officer again for VMAT ( AW ) - 202 . He attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington , D . C . , from August 1968 to June 1969 , when he was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam as the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Aviation Safety Officer , and later , as Executive Officer , Marine Aircraft Group 11 . Davis was promoted to colonel in August 1970 , and a month later , returned to the United States as Executive Officer , Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff ( Air ) , Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . He remained in that billet until June 1973 , when he transferred to El Toro as Commanding Officer , Marine Aircraft Group 46 / Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment . Peacetime . Davis became Assistant Wing Commander , 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing , MCAS El Toro , following his advancement to brigadier general on July 1 , 1975 and assigned duty as Commander , Marine Corps Air Bases , Western Area / Commanding General , Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , in June 1976 . During this tour he was advanced to major general on February 17 , 1977 and assigned duty as Commanding General , 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing , MCAS El Toro . From July 6 , 1977 to August 8 , 1977 , he was assigned additional duty as Commanding General , 1st Marine Amphibious Force , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton . On February 15 , 1978 , he was assigned duty as the Commanding General , 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D . Butler , Okinawa , Japan . He was assigned duty as the Director of Operations , J - 3 , Pacific Command , Camp H . M . Smith , Hawaii on June 16 , 1979 . General Davis was assigned duty as the Commanding General , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific , Camp H . M . Smith , Hawaii on June 30 , 1981 , and was promoted to lieutenant general on July 1 , 1981 . Upon promotion to general , General Davis assumed the assignment as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 1 , 1983 and served in this capacity until his retirement on June 1 , 1986 . During his term as Assistant Commandant , he served as President of the Marine Corps Association . General Davis has flown over 30 different aircraft including ; the F3D , F9F , F11F , A - 6 , F - 4 , F - 104 , A - 4 , AH - 64 , UH - 1 , CH - 46 , CH - 53 , FA - 18 , and the XV - 15 ( MV - 22 Prototype ) . He flew 285 combat hours in Republic of Vietnam ( 160 at night ) and 171 combat missions ( 100 at night ) . Medals and decorations . A complete list of his medals and decorations include :