1933 – Graduated from Atlanta Technical High School, Atlanta, Georgia.

1938 – Finished Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at Georgia School of Technology.

       – Resigned his commission in the U. S. Army Infantry Reserve to accept appointment as a Marine second lieutenant.

1939 – He completed the Marine Officers’ Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

1940 – Returned to shore duty in July for weapons and artillery instruction at Quantico, Virginia, and Aberdeen, Maryland.

1941 – He was assigned to the 1st Antiaircraft Machine Gun Battery, 1st Marine Division at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

       – Promoted to first lieutenant in August.

1942 – Upon his promotion to captain in February, he was named battery commander.

       – Appointed Executive Officer of the 1st Special Weapons Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

1943 – He was promoted to major on 28th of February.

       – In October he took over command of the battalion and served in that capacity at New Guinea and Cape Gloucester.

1944 – Named as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.

       – In October, he returned to Pavuvu and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

       – Returning to the United States in November he was assigned to Quantico as Tactical Inspector, Marine Corps Schools.

1945 – He was named Chief of the Infantry Section, Marine Air-Infantry School, Quantico, in May.

1947 – He was the 1st Brigade’s Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (Operations and Training).

1948 – 1949 – Became the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 (Logistics).

1949 – 1950 – Returned to Guam in May, he was named Inspector-Instructor of the 9th Marine Corps Reserve Infantry Battalion in Chicago, Illinois.

1950 – 1951 – Earned the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his part in rebuilding the regiment after the Chosin Reservoir campaign.

1952 – Received award from President Harry S. Truman in a White House ceremony on 24th of November.

1960 – Completed the course at the National War College in Washington, D.C.

1964 – Assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps and served as Assistant Director of Personnel.

1966 – He was promoted to major general in November.

1968 – 1969 – Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Civision.

       – Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, and three personal decorations by the Vietnamese Government.

1970 – Promoted as lieutenant general on 1st of July and was reassigned duty as Commanding General, Marine Corps Development and Education Command.

1971 – President Richard M. Nixon nominated him for appointment to the grade of general and assignment to the position of Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.

1972 – He retired from the post of Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on 31st of March.

2003 – He was awarded the James A. Van Fleet Award by The Korea Society.

       – He died of a heart attack at the age of 88 on 3rd of September.

2006 – General Ray Davis Middle School opened near his former home in Conyers, Georgia.