[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E391-E392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

HONORING GENERAL RAYMOND G. DAVIS

______

HON. MAC COLLINS

of georgia

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, March 17, 1998

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the American
Legion on the occasion of the 79th Anniversary of its founding and to
pay homage to General Raymond G. Davis, Medal of Honor recipient and
retired Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. I
recently had the honor of introducing General Davis as the keynote
speaker at the recent birthday celebration of the Clayton County
American Post 258. I enter those remarks in the Congressional Record in
honor of the American Legion and General Ray Davis.

The Honorable Mac Collins 79th Anniversary of the American Legion
Clayton County American Legion Post 258, March 13, 1998, Jonesboro,
Georgia

Good evening. It is a real pleasure to be with so many
friends here tonight. Thank you Lamar Miller for your kind
introductory remarks and for giving me the honor of
introducing General Ray Davis, our distinguished speaker this
evening. I also want to recognize Clayton County Sheriff
Stanley Tuggle, State Representative Greg Hecht, and State
Representative Frank Bailey and his wife, Frances. I have
known and respected Frank for many years. He is a friend and
does a fine job for the people of Clayton County in the
Georgia House of Representatives.
And, I want to recognize Mr. James Hugh Lindsey. I had the
pleasure of first meeting Mr. Lindsey at a celebration
arranged by Mr. Miller on the occasion of his 101st birthday.
Mr. Lindsey recently celebrated his 102nd birthday, and I
know everyone here this evening joins with me in wishing him
many more to come.
We are here tonight to celebrate and honor the 79th
anniversary of the founding of the American Legion. When Mr.
Miller told me tonight's dinner was being held to celebrate
the founding of the American Legion, I wanted to learn more
about the rich history of your organization.
It all began in March 1919 when members of the American
Expeditionary Force in Europe held the first caucus in Paris
and created an organization for those who have served their
country. The official name for the Legion was adopted in May
1919 at a caucus meeting in St. Louis. In September 1919, the
organization was officially chartered by the United States
Congress. And, in November 1919, the Legion held its first
annual convention in Minneapolis where its members adopted
the organization's constitution and set its future course.
From that handful of soldiers in Paris and the founding
members at the first convention in Minneapolis, the American
Legion today has grown to over 2.9 million members. The
programs you sponsor and support touch the lives of so many
of your fellow citizens. You are helping to mold the harts
and minds of our nation's youth with your work with the Boy
Scouts of America, your sponsorship of Boys State and Boys
Nation, American Legion Baseball, your educational
scholarship programs, the Child Welfare Foundation, your
Children and Youth Programs and many, many more.
Through your Citizens Flag Alliance, the Legion is working
to ``protect our history, our pride, our honor and our
flag.'' And, the American Legion provides valuable input to
Congress in writing and passing laws that protect our
national security and enhance the lives of all who have
served their country. As a Member of Congress, I thank you
and your fellow Legionnaires for all that you have given, and
continue to give, to your nation.
While I could continue speaking on the wonderful history of
the Legion, it is my honor to introduce your keynote speaker
who, I believe, best represents the ideals on which the
American Legion was founded and for which it stands today.
Raymond G. Davis is a son of Georgia. He was born on January
13, 1915 in Fitzgerald, the son of Zelma and Raymond Roy
Davis. Following his 1938 graduation from Georgia School of
Technology with Honors, Ray Davis began a 33-year career with
the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant.
During that distinguished career, Ray Davis rose from the
rank of second lieutenant to become a four-star general and
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. While

[[Page E392]]

General Davis may be best known as a recipient of the Medal
of Honor while serving as a Battalion Commander during the
Korean War, he first saw action in some of the most brutal
fighting of World War II. He was part of the Marine forces
that participated in the capture and defense of Guadalcanal
and the Eastern New Guinea and Cape Gloucester campaigns.
While commanding the 1st Marine Division of the 1st
Battalion in September of 1944, then Major Davis was wounded
during the first hour of the landing operations. He refused
to leave his men and continued to direct the Battalion in
establishing defense positions and gaining control of the
island. For his actions, Major Davis was awarded the Purple
Heart and the Navy Cross.
As a Lieutenant Colonel in Korea from 1950 to 1951, General
Davis earned the nation's highest decoration for heroism
during the 1st Marine Division's historic fight to break out
of the Chosin Reservoir Area. Against overwhelming odds, he
led his Battalion in a four-day battle which saved a Marine
rifle company and opened a mountain pass for the escape of
two trapped Marine regiments. President Harry Truman
presented Colonel Davis with the Medal of Honor in ceremonies
at the White House on November 24, 1952.
In 1968, then Major General Ray Davis was named Deputy
Commanding General of forces in his third and final
conflict--the Vietnam War. During that tour, General Davis
was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal--the first of two
such medals he received. In 1971, General Davis was nominated
by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate as
the Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.
He served in this position until his retirement in 1972.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, two Distinguished
Service Medals, the Navy Cross and Purple Heart, General
Davis was awarded two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, six
Bronze Stars and many other awards from allied governments.
Additionally, the forces in which he served received five
Presidential Unit Citations, three Navy Unit Commendations
and 15 Battle Stars.
After 33 years of traveling the world, seeing action in
three wars and serving as one of the nation's highest
military officers, Ray Davis could have settled into a
comfortable retirement on his farm here in Georgia. But this
was not the way for Ray Davis--a man of life-long action and
deep commitment to serving others.
Let me quote General Davis on leaving the Marines: ``As for
retirement being difficult, I had an ideal transition in that
I was retired from the Corps at 10 o'clock in the morning in
Washington, and I was in my Atlanta office at 2 o'clock that
afternoon in charge of the whole state of the Georgia Chamber
of Commerce.'' Ray Davis had returned home as Executive Vice
President for one of the premier business organizations in
Georgia.
General Davis went on to lead the Georgia Chamber through
an exciting time of growth in our state. He later left the
Chamber to become President of RGMW, a family-owned land
development corporation. General Davis also gave time to
activities that are close to his heart. He has served as a
trustee in the Valley Forge Military Academy, Chairman of the
Trustees for the Marine Military Academy and on the Board of
Visitors for Berry College. He was appointed by President
Ronald Reagan to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory
Board and he is active in many Marine Corps organizations.
Today, General Davis and his wife of over 50 years, Knox,
live in Rockdale County. They enjoy traveling and staying
active in the many organizations in which General Davis still
serves. They also enjoy having more time for their three
children, Raymond Jr., Gordon and Willa, and their
grandchildren. Tonight I have touched on the highlights of
the extraordinary life and career of General Davis. For more
details on this incredible man, I would encourage you to read
``The Story of Ray Davis.'' In fact, we may be able to
prevail on the General to autograph copies of his book this
evening.
In closing, I want to leave you with a quote from Army
General Creighton W. Abrams Jr., commander of U.S. forces in
Vietnam, to Marine Commandant General Leonard F. Chapman Jr.
General Abrams said of Ray Davis, ``. . . of the 50 or so
division commanders I have known in Vietnam, General Davis
has no peer. He's the best.''
Ray Davis truly does represent the best of American
society--soldier, scholar, a man of deeply held beliefs and
commitments, and a devoted husband and father. Words cannot
express how proud and honored I am to know General Ray Davis.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a true American hero--
General Raymond G. Davis.

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