Ray Davis in 1952, then a lieutenant colonel.

Raymond Gilbert "Ray" Davis (January 13, 1915-September 3, 2003) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps commissioned officer, serving in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. His single most notable endeavor was the salvation of hundreds of trapped American troops during the 1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir while commanding the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. His final rank, appointed by President Nixon, was General. He retired from the post of Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on March 31, 1972, after more than 33 years with the Marines. U.S. Marine Corps General Ray Davis, then a lieutenant colonel, in 1952. ... U.S. Marine Corps General Ray Davis, then a lieutenant colonel, in 1952. ... 1952 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A military decoration is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ... In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb. ... The Korean War (Korean hangul: 한국전쟁; hanja: 韓國戰爭; revised: hanguk jeonjang; McCune-Reischauer: hanguk chŏnjang), from June 25, 1950 to cease-fire on July 27, 1953 (technically speaking, the war has not yet ended), was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ... The Vietnam War or Second Indochina War was a conflict between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN, or North Vietnam), allied with the National Liberation Front (NLF, or Viet Cong) against the Republic of Vietnam (RVN, or South Vietnam), and its allies—notably the United States military in support of... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants Peoples Republic of China United Nations forces; including United States Commanders Song Shi-Lun Oliver Smith Strength 120,000 40,000 Casualties 25,000 killed, 12,500 wounded, 30,000 frost-bite casualties 2,500 dead, 192 missing, 5,000 wounded, 7,500 cold related injuries The Battle... In military organizations, the commanding officer (CO) is the officer in charge of a military unit. ... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO code In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ... Military rank, or simply rank, is a system of grading seniority and command within military organizations. ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the thirty-seventh President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... General is a high military rank, used by nearly every country in the world. ... The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps is the highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps, who is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reports to the Secretary of the Navy but not to the Chief of Naval Operations. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining, as the final day of March. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ...

Davis had a close relationship with Chesty Puller, serving with him on Guadalcanal and in Korea. Chesty Puller Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell Chesty Puller (June 26, 1898 – October 11, 1971) was a United States Marine officer, notable as the most decorated Marine in history. ... The Battle of Guadalcanal was one of the most important battles of World War II. The assault on the Japanese-occupied island of Guadalcanal by the Allied navies and 16,000 United States troops on 7 August 1942, was the first offensive by US land forces in the Pacific Campaign. ...

Davis was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia, and graduated from Georgia Tech in 1938 with a degree in chemical engineering. He died of a heart attack on September 3, 2003. Fitzgerald is a city located in Ben Hill County, Georgia. ... Georgia Institute of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech, is located in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. With over 16,000 students, Georgia Tech is one of four public research universities in the University System of Georgia. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Chemical engineering is the application of science, in particular chemistry, along with mathematics and economics to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. ... A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Decorations

The Medal of Honor; the Navy Cross; the Navy Distinguished Service Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award; the Silver Star Medal with gold star in lieu of a second award; the Legion of Merit with Combat V and gold star in lieu of a second award; the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V; the Purple Heart; the Navy & Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation with four bronze service stars indicative of second through fifth awards; the Navy Unit Commendation; the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp; the American Campaign Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver star in lieu of five bronze stars; the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars; the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars; the National Order of Vietnam, 4th Class; the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with three Palms; two Korean Presidential Unit Citations; the United Nations Service Medal; the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and the Korean War Service Medal (awarded posthumously). The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ... The Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. ... The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is an award of the United States Navy and United States Marines which was first created in 1919. ... Gold and Silver Award Stars An Award star is a decoration issued by the United States military to denote multiple military awards issued to personnel of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and United States Marines. ... The Silver Star is also a passenger rail line run by Amtrak as part of their Silver Service and Palmetto service. ... The Legion of Merit is an awesome award which only the bravest of Americans will ever win. ... The Valor device, also known as V-device, V device, and Combat V, is an award of the United States military which is authorized by the military services as an attachment to certain awards and decorations. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... The Purple Heart is a U.S. military decoration awarded in the name of the President of the United States to those who have been wounded or killed while serving in, or with, the U.S. military after April 5, 1917. ... USA and USAF Presidential Unit Citation Please see Presidential Unit Citation for other versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action on or after 7 December 1941 against an armed enemy. ... Bronze and Silver Service Stars A Service star is an attachment to a military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. ... Navy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944. ... The American Defense Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created in 1941 by Executive Order of President Franklin Roosevelt. ... Campaign Clasp Examples A Campaign clasp is an attachment to a military award consisting of a metal bar which is pinned to the upper cloth portion of an award medal. ... American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal was a decoration of the United States military which was first created in 1942 by order of President Franklin Roosevelt. ... The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945. ... WWII Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. ... The National Defense Service Medal is a military decoration of the United States military and was the brainchild of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. ... The Korean Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military and was created in November 1950 by order of President Harry Truman. ... Vietnam Service Medal The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. ... The National Order of Vietnam was a combined military-civilian decoration of South Vietnam and was considered the highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual by the Republic of Vietnam government. ... Gallantry Cross Medal and Unit Citation The Vietnam Gallantry Cross is a military decoration of South Vietnam which was established in August 1950. ... Korean P.U.C. The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is issued by the government of South Korea to both Korean military and foreign units. ... The United Nations Service Medal is an international military decoration which was established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950. ... The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military award of South Vietnam which was established in 1966. ... The Korean War Service Medal is a decoration of South Korea which was first authorized in December 1950. ... Posthumous means after death. ...