In memory of Cpl Donald Alan Davis, USMC

I would like to take a moment to time today, on our country's day of independence, to honor and pay tribute to one of its many heroes, Corporal Donald Alan Davis, USMC.

Mr. Davis passed away on Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 and left behind a family who realizes the magnitude of his achievements along with the sacrifices he made for his country, and wish for his legacy to be known by all Americans.



Don was a Korean War veteran, as well as a member of a very exclusive group of fighters- he was a survivor of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir.  The Chosin Few, as they came to be called, endured unimaginable hardships during the harsh winter of 1950, including temperatures as low as -35F, as well as a North Korean Army augmented by the People's Volunteer Army from China.

After the Eighth Army retreated in disarray, the 1st Marine Division (Don's unit) was left holding the bag, surrounded by vast amounts of enemy troops and cut off from their supply lines.  They had to fight their way, tooth and nail, to a withdrawal at Hungnam during the dead of winter with the Chinese trying to tighten the noose around them.

The Battle of the Chosin Reservoir inflicted 4,385 casualties on the Marines, in addition to the 7,338 men who fell as non-battle casualties due to the cold.  The 1st Marine Division fought with such valor during the battle that they were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.  Fourteen Marines, two soldiers, and one Navy pilot were awarded the Medal of Honor, our country's highest military decoration.  All of the Chosin Few distinguished themselves during the course of the battle, one of them is being recognized here in memorial.

The following is a brief biography of Corporal Don Davis, compiled by the people who knew him the best, his family:

Donald Alan Davis joined the Marine Corps in 1945 because the Army and Navy recruiter’s offices were closed, leaving only the Marine recruiter’s office open. He was sixteen years old and wanted to get away from what he thought was a less than desirable home life. As he needed a parent’s signature on the enlistment forms, so he took them to his mother and said, “You might as well sign them. If you don’t I’ll find a way to get in.” She signed them and Don entered boot camp at Camp Pendleton in August 1945. Had he finished boot camp, he was likely slated to take part in the invasion of Japan. Don completed boot camp in January 1946. He had lied his way through boot camp, claiming to be seventeen years old. When he really turned seventeen in January, 1946, he let his DI know the truth. Cpl. Pohls let him know, in a way only a Marine Corps DI could, what he thought of being lied to, but nevertheless, welcomed Don into the Corps. Don was discharged later in 1946.

Don re-upped in September 1947 and served in various areas including the Philippines, and US-based postings on the West Coast. He was scheduled to be discharged in September 1950, when he received what he called his “personal invitation” from President Harry Truman to stay another year. He told the story this way, “Harry said, ‘Don, can you stay another year?’ And I said, ‘Sure, Harry.’”

Don shipped out to the Korean peninsula along with the rest of Item Company, 3^rd Battalion, 5^th Marines, as a machine gunner, to strengthen Army and ROK positions in what was looking like a rout in the making in Pusan.

Instead of being discharged in September 1950, Don was taking part in the Inchon landing at Inchon harbor. Don landed at Wolmi-do Island along with the rest of the 3^rd battalion, 5^th Marines and fought his way off the island along the isthmus linking the island to Inchon.

Don continued the fight into Seoul as part of the liberating force, where he earned his first of two Purple Hearts on 26Sep50.

Later, Don told us of his being transported on another ship (he hated ships) around the Korean peninsula to Wonson where the 1^st Marines were to sit on board awaiting their landing.

Later in November and December 1950, Don took part in what is now considered the third of the three toughest battles in Marine Corps history, the battle of the Chosin Reservoir. In that battle, Don was one of seventeen survivors from Item company to make it back to Hungnam; he kept a Dec. 1945 newspaper clipping from his hometown telling of his being one of these survivors and the frostbite he incurred there.

Don also earned his second purple heart on 2Dec50 as part of the break out from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri. Don made it back on foot to Hungnam, despite his wound and severe frostbite, where he was evacuated with the rest of the UN forces.

Shortly thereafter, Don returned to the US and completed his active career with the Marines on 28Sep51. Although Don was no longer in the Marine Corps, he would remain a faithful Marine to the end of his life on 27Jun12. He believed “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

Don took the Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis” to heart. He was always faithful; to God, his family, his country.

It was my privilege to learn about Don and his accomplishments through the kindness of his daughter and her husband.  I only wish that I could have had the opportunity to meet him while he was still with us.  It is because of men like Don that our country stands free and proud.  Learning about his difficult journey through life for the benefit of his country makes us all better people, and makes me proud to have been a United States Marine.

Semper Fi to you, Corporal Davis.  You gave us more than we could ever give back to you.

LWM out................