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Raymond Davis Passes Away |
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Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
United States Marine Corps Gen. Raymond G. Davis
Gen. Raymond Davis dies of heart attack at 88
by Aimee A. Jones, Rockdale Citizen
Read his Medal of Honor Citation
Tribute to General Raymond G. Davis,USMC CONYERS Rockdale County resident and retired United States Marine Corps Gen. Raymond G. Davis, 88, the most highly decorated Marine in the United States, has died.
According to Davis friends, he was admitted to Rockdale Hospital this week and died Wednesday afternoon after suffering from a heart attack. Davis is survived by his wife of 60 years, Willa Knox Davis, two sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be made through Horis Ward Funeral Home at a later time.
Davis military awards were legion. In 1944, he was awarded the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman, the nations highest award for heroism, two Silver Star Medals, a Legion of Merit with Combat V and the Bronze Star Medal in Korea in 1950. Fifteen years later, Davis was awarded a second Legion of Merit and then, in 1968, the Republic of Vietnam awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal and three personal decorations by the Vietnamese government. Davis also earned the Navy Cross.
President Richard Nixon nominated Davis to be appointed to the rank of general in 1971. The following year, Davis retired from the Marine Corps after serving more than 33 years in active military duty. He was then awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. Earlier this year, Davis received the Korea Society Van Fleet Award in recognition of the work he had done on behalf of the Korean people. In May, he was nominated by Sen. Zell Miller and Rep. John Linder for the Presidential Medal of Freedom , the nations highest civilian award recognizing exceptional meritorious service.
But even with these honors, those closest to Davis describe him as humble.
Former Rockdale County Commissioner and veteran of World War II Bud Sosebee said that of all Davis attributes, the one that stood out most was his humility.
Gen. Davis is well-known throughout the world for being a true fighter through all the battles he fought, but at the same time he is a very humble man and wanted to help other people, Sosebee said. It is with great sorrow that this community lost a citizen of his stature.
After Davis retirement in 1972, he continued to be very active in the community and in veterans affairs. Davis helped develop the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, served as chairman for the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board and later as general chairman for the Korean War Veterans Memorial Dedication that took place in July 1995.
Locally, Davis was involved with Keep Conyers-Rockdale Clean and Beautiful, worked on the South River clean-up project and was director for the future Georgia Memorial Veterans Park, which is to be constructed at Randy Poynter Lake.
He said many times in connection with the Medal of Honor, that there were thousands of people who did very heroic things and actions that they did not get credit for, recalled long-time friend Bill Bailey. He said that hes one of those few people who had three others say independently they saw what he did (to earn the medal). He was just lucky. He says so much that sergeants, corporals and privates did so much to get him where he got to. He was so dedicated to enlisted men.
To Bailey, Gen. Davis was just Ray.
We were just friends, Bailey said. I told him one time, I have to really work hard to get the Medal of Honor and four stars out of the way just so I can see you. He liked that because not too many people did that. I took him off the pedestal. We were just friends.
What Col. (Ret.) C.B. Drinnon recalls is that Davis never missed a Sunday at Conyers United Methodist Church, his home church.
Ray was a very religious person, Drinnon said. He was at church every Sunday he was in town. ... They never made a more honorable person in this world than Ray Davis. I cried a little bit when I heard about his death because I loved him so. Every Sunday when we would meet after church, I would hug his wife and he would hug my wife. Thats how close we were.
What will undoubtedly be remembered about Davis are his dedication and pride in his country.
He was very proud to be a Marine, said Rockdale County Commission Chairman Norman Wheeler. He would always stand tall during the pledge (of allegiance). His character was above reproach. No one could question his dedication and loyalty. He was a Marine through and through.
In one of his last interviews with the Citizen, Davis commented that he was encouraged by the increased sense of patriotism and respect for the military he has seen in the last few years.
I think the population is much closer to the military now than in the past, he said earlier this year. They see the sacrifices our military people make and understand that it is their service that protects our freedom and way of life.
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