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Raymond Davis Obituary
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ROCKDALE COUNTY: Raymond Davis, 88, decorated Marine vet
By BRENDEN SAGER
Marine Gen. Raymond G. Davis was a tireless warrior and military activist, fighting abroad and then battles at home for veterans recognition.
Gen. Davis, 88, of Rockdale County died Wednesday of a heart attack, said his son Raymond Gil Davis Jr. of Covington.
"As far as I was concerned he was just like everybody else's father, except from time to time he would fight some screaming bloody war," Davis said.
After graduating from Georgia Tech, Gen. Davis received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant in 1938 and retired as a four-star general in 1972 after serving in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He ended his military service as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, the nation's second-highest-ranking Marine.
Gen. Davis received the Medal of Honor for commanding troops in the 1950 battle of Chosin Reservoir in Korea. He was also awarded the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Service Medals, two Silver Stars, two Legion of Merit awards, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, five Presidential Unit citations and three Naval Unit citations.
After retiring, Gen. Davis advocated for veterans, especially for those who fought in Korea. He organized a movement that led to the 1995 creation of the war memorial in Washington. Locally, veterans established the Gen. Ray Davis Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association.
His son said Wednesday the family was working with the Marine Corps on Gen. Davis' funeral preparations.
Gen. Davis is survived by his wife, Willa Knox Davis; another son, Gordon Miles Davis of Pensacola, Fla., daughter Willa Kerr of Rockdale County; and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
© 2003 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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