The Story of Ray Davis: General of Marines

Raymond Gilbert Davis, General, U. S. Marine Corps, is a man of relatively few words. The fact that the following could be extracted from this authentic hero is something this writer originally deemed impossible. We had discussed such a project back in 1954. As a Tactics Instructor at The Basic School in Quantico, I had sold articles about "our" battalion, the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. At the Chosin Reservoir, Korea, he was the Commanding Officer, and I was in one of his rifle companies. At that time Colonel Ray Davis’ reply had been: "Bill, if you think such a book would tell the real story about what a great job our troops did in that terribly difficult environment, I'm available." It all came back in late November, 1987, when he sent money for another copy of my book, CHOSIN MARINE--which he termed "the worm's eye view." Bill," he wrote, "you talked about getting together on a book. Perhaps now is the time." Originally, after discussing the project with Brigadier General E. H. Simmons, Director of Marine Corps History and Museums the following January, the plan was to create a biography. We would meld together input from brother Marines and others from around the globe, plus my observations gained in ten different tours with him between 1947 and 1971 with emphasis on what he had learned and how it could be best passed on to future generations. The truth is that all incoming reports appeared to be written more about a man slated for sainthood rather than "Lessons Learned in Combat Leadership" in three major wars; wars of the caliber required to earn a Navy Cross in World War II, the Medal of Honor in Korea and the Distinguished Service Medal in Vietnam. Consequently, the decision was made to turn to my pens, pencils, typewriter, tape recorder, telephone and VCR, in order to get this Marine's Marine to tell it as he sees it. - Glossy large format hardcover, published without a dust Jacket, 8.5" x 11.25, 304 pages, illustrated throughout, indexed.