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TB yOT Griffin Daily News •
Magazine
General Davis in Profile
Parker House Rolls
Stonewall Jackson
(Editor’s note: General Davis is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Raymond R. Davis of Milner, Ga. This article is reprinted, by
permission, as it appeared in the June 1971 issue of Navy
Magazine, the official publication of the Navy League of the
United States, Washington, D.C.
By ROBERT J. BOYLAN
GROWING up in a Georgia town with streets named
for famous generals can well fire the imagination of
a young boy. So it is quite understandable that upon
graduation from college young Raymond Gilbert Davis
decided upon a military career. Today, after 33 years of
distinguished service he holds the Medal of Honor, four
star general rank, and is Assistant Commandant of the
Marine Corps —a position that could lead to Comman
dant, when the four-year term of the incumbent, General
Leonard Chapman, ends this December.
There may be a link between General Davis’ many
awards for heroism and his hometown. Fitzgerald, Ga., is
an unusual town. Relatively new, it was founded in 1895
by a caravan of adventurous farmers and Union veterans
of the Civil War from southern Indiana, including Davis’
parents.
In honoring Civil War generals, the Hoosier transplants
displayed rare courage by naming half of the streets for
northern generals and half for southern generals. With a
nicety revealing the moderacy of the middle country the
town’s hotel was called the Lee-Grant. This is all the
more remarkable when one realizes just where Fitzgerald
is situated; it is only seven miles from the historic place
where the former Confederate President, Jefferson Davis,
was captured by Union cavalry, marked now by a bronze
bust atop a marble shaft and a park dedicated to the
people of the South.
Davis went to Technical High School in Atlanta, where
he was “pretty good at metal work,” and then on to
Georgia Tech. He is one of three Tech graduates who are
now Marine generals. Others are Lieutenant General
Griffin, Ga., 30223, Sunday, July 18, 1971
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General Raymond G. Davis, USMC
William G. Thrash and Major General John N.
McLaughlin.
“Sports at Tech? I didn’t really have much time for
sports,” General Davis explains not ruefully, just
matter-of-factly. “I worked my way through school mak
ing Parker House rolls in a bakery. ..1 can still make
them."
Working from 7:30 at night until 3 in the morning
didn’t leave much time for sports but young Davis some
how managed to participate in wrestling and also cross
country running, an interest he continues now in modi
fied form daily, but at less distance. This trim, medium
height, 56 year old general keeps his weight at a constant
160 and for recreation plays week-end golf and does some
deer and turkey hunting.
At graduation in 1938 there were three offers: a teach
ing fellowship at the University of Tennessee and the
opportunity for field work at Muscle Shoals; an Army
reserve commission after ROIC experience, and a com
mission in the Marines. He chose life in the Marines.
Meeting General Davis for the first time leaves some
indelible impressions. He comes forward to meet a visitor,
hand outstretched (but not thrust), and modestly says
“I’m Ray Davis.” The handshake is warm, not a crunch.
There is no bark, no bite, no bristle a contrast to his
impressively decorated military background, in which he
has had to be rough, tough, and ready.
Out Front Commander
Colleagues describe him as an “out front” commanding
officer, a “compassionate disciplinarian,” not one who
lives “by the book.” He has the concerned, sincere, and
receptive eyes and manner of an experienced chaplain or
medic.
When challenged by the comment that he doesn’t look
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