1 OZ SILVER PANDA

General Raymond Gilbert Davis, who earned the Medal of Honor in Korea in 1950, was born on 13 January 1915, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, and graduated in 1933 from Atlanta Technical High School, Atlanta, Georgia. He then entered the Georgia School of Technology, graduating in 1938 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. While in college he was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps unit. After graduation, he resigned his commission in the U. S. Army Infantry Reserve to accept appointment as a Marine second lieutenant on 27 June 1938.
In May 1939, 2dLt Davis completed the Marine Officers' Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and began a year of service with the Marine Detachment on board the USS Portland in the Pacific. He returned to shore duty in July 1940 for weapons and artillery instruction at Quantico, Virginia, and Aberdeen, Maryland. Completing the training in February 1941, he was assigned to the 1st Antiaircraft Machine Gun Battery, 1st Marine Division at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He returned to the United States with the unit in April, and the following month was appointed battery executive officer, serving in that capacity at Parris Island, South Carolina, and Quantico. He was promoted to first lieutenant in August 1941. That September, he moved with the battery to the Marine Barracks, New River (later Camp Lejeune), North Carolina. Upon his promotion to captain in February 1942, he was named battery commander.
During World War II, he participated in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings, the capture and defense of Guadalcanal, the Eastern New Guinea and Cape Gloucester campaigns, and the Peleliu operation. Beginning in June 1942, he embarked with his unit for the Pacific area, landing at Guadalcanal two months later. After that campaign, he was appointed Executive Officer of the 1st Special Weapons Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to major 28 February 1943. In October of that year, Maj Davis took over command of the battalion and served in that capacity at New Guinea and Cape Gloucester. In April 1944, while on Cape Gloucester, he was named Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.
Major Davis' action while commanding the 1st Battalion at Peleliu in September 1944 earned him the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart. Although wounded during the first hour of the Peleliu landing, he refused evacuation to remain with his men; and, on one occasion, when heavy Marine casualties and the enemy's point-blank cannon fire had enabled the Japanese to break through, he personally rallied and led his men in fighting to re-establish defense positions. In October 1944, he returned to Pavuvu and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
Returning to the United States in November 1944, LtCol Davis was assigned to Quantico as Tactical Inspector, Marine Corps Schools. He was named Chief of the Infantry Section, Marine Air-Infantry School, Quantico, in May 1945, and served in that post for two years before returning to the Pacific area in July 1947 to serve with the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade on Guam. He was the 1st Brigade's Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (Operations and Training), until August 1948, and from then until May 1949, was Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 (Logistics). Upon his return from Guam in May 1949, he was named Inspector-Instructor of the 9th Marine Corps Reserve Infantry Battalion in Chicago, Illinois. He served there until August 1950 when he embarked for Korea.
In Korea, LtCol Davis commanded the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, from August to December 1950. He earned the Nation's highest decoration for heroism, the Medal of Honor, during the 1st Marine Division's historic fight to break out of the Chosin Reservoir area. There, against overwhelming odds, he led his battalion in a terrific four-day battle which saved a rifle company from annihilation and opened a mountain pass for the escape of two trapped Marine regiments. The award was presented him by President Truman in a White House ceremony on 24 November 1952.
Besides receiving the Medal of Honor for action during that period, he twice earned the Silver Star Medal by exposing himself to heavy enemy fire while leading and encouraging his men in the face of strong enemy opposition. He also received the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” for exceptionally meritorious conduct and professional skill in welding the 1st Battalion into a highly effective combat team. Later, as Executive Officer of the 7th Marines, from December 1950 to June 1951, LtCol Davis earned the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V” for his part in rebuilding the regiment after the Chosin Reservoir campaign. He returned from Korea in June 1951.
Ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D. C., LtCol Davis served in the Operations Subsection, G-3, Division of Plans and Policies, until February 1952, when he took charge of the subsection. In April 1953, he became Head of the Operations and Training Branch, G-3 Division. Wh

General Earl Edward Anderson, the first active duty Marine Naval Aviator to be promoted to a four-star rank, became Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on 1 April 1972. He was promoted to general on 31 March 1972 and retired from the Marine Corps in July 1975. Anderson was born 24 June 1919, in Morgantown, West Virginia, and graduated from Morgantown High School. He then entered West Virginia University, and graduated in 1940, after earning a Bachelor of Science degree and academic and military honors. He also holds a Master of Arts degree from that institution. In June 1940, he was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant and reported to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Basic School.
Upon graduation from Basic School, in February 1941, he was ordered to Sea School, Marine Barracks, Portsmouth, Virginia, where he served as an instructor. He remained in that assignment until May, when he received assignment to the USS Yorktown which was operating with the Atlantic Patrol.
With the outbreak of World War II, Anderson and the Yorktown were transferred to the Pacific Area where they participated in the Marshall-Gilbert Campaign, the Salamaua-Lae Raid, and the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. He was serving aboard the Yorktown when she was sunk in the Battle of Midway. During this period of time he was promoted to first lieutenant (December 1941) and captain (May 1942).
Following his rescue from the Yorktown, Captain Anderson was returned to the United States where he served briefly with Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California, and then with the 2d Marine Division.
He was ordered to flight training at Naval Air Station, Dallas, Texas, in the spring of 1943. He was promoted to Major in May 1943, and was awarded the gold wings of a Naval Aviator at Pensacola, Florida, in October 1943. His next assignment was a flight instructor at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station, Edenton, North Carolina. He remained there until December 1944, when he returned to duty in the Pacific area and assumed command of Marine Bomber Squadron (VMB) 443. He later served as Executive Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 61 in the consolidation of the Northern Solomons and in the Philippines.
In November 1945, Anderson returned to the United States where he served in a wide variety of post-war assignments which included the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing; student at the Command and Staff School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia; Superintendent, Military Training, Marine Aviation Technical Schools, Quantico, Virginia; Administrative Officer, Division of Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps and Administrative Assistant Commandant for Air, Headquarters Marine Corps.
He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 1949, and assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General, where he served in various branches until summer of 1952. Anderson was next ordered to Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, where he served as Executive Officer for Marine Aircraft Group 16 until the spring of 1953 when he was ordered to Korea.
In Korea, Anderson was Commanding Officer, Marine Observation Squadron Six, and later became the Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Upon his return to the United States he was assigned as the Executive Officer, and then Commanding Officer, of Marine Aircraft Group 26. During May 1956, Anderson was assigned to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, where he served as an instructor, then Chief, for the Air Section, Marine Corps Educational Center.
He was promoted to colonel in October 1957, and during the summer of 1959, was ordered to the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He graduated in June 1960, and was ordered to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, where he served as the Staff Legal Officer until July, 1961. He then assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 36, Santa Ana, California, where his group participated in more than 13 separate amphibious and field exercises.
In June 1963, he became Chief of Staff, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam, and served in that capacity until the summer of 1964, when he returned to the United States. For his service with the MAAG, he was awarded a Legion of Merit with Combat "V"; and for his participation as a pilot in more than 40 combat missions against the Viet Cong, he was awarded gold stars in lieu of his seventh and eighth Air Medals.
Anderson then served as Marine Tactical Data System Program Coordinator, Headquarters Marine Corps, until January 1966. He was promoted to brigadier general on 3 January 1966, and in February he assumed duty as Deputy Chief of Staff (Research, Development and Studies), Headquarters Marine Corps. For that duty he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit.
In December 1967, he returned to the Far East where he assumed duty as the Chief of Staff, III Marine Amphibious Force, Republic of Vietnam. He held that assignment until January 1969, and for his service he was awarded a Distinguished