Born: October 10, 1921
Died: May 19, 2009
Campaigns Served: Namur (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Corporal
Decorations: Purple Heart
Raymond Davis was born in Rimerton, Pennsylvania, in 1921. His parents, Frank and Edna Mae Davis, moved to Austintown, Ohio; Davis graduated from Austintown Fitch High School in 1941 and was attending night classes at Youngstown College at the time of Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the Marines in 1942, and was assigned to Company A, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) as its primary carpenter. PFC Davis was present when the battalion's designation was formally changed to First Battalion, 24th Marines, Fourth Marine Division.
Raymond Davis at chow call, 1943. Photo by George Smith
He was promoted to Corporal on December 9, 1943. Davis boarded the USS DuPage the following month, and participated in the battle of Namur. During the night of February 1, a shell fragment struck Corporal Davis in the chest, seriously wounding him - his friend and fellow Marine George Smith would later recall that Davis was extremely lucky to have survived. Stretcher bearers carried Davis to the beach, and a boat brought him to to the USS Bolivar, where he was treated.
Raymond Davis was transferred out of the company on February 22, 1944, for further medical care. After his discharge, he returned to Youngstown, where he married Rebecca Johnson and raised four children while working as a machinist. He was gifted with his hands, designing and building his own tools and a home for his family.
Davis died in 2009, after suffering from declining health. He is buried in Four Mile Run Cemetery, Youngstown.