Robert Courtney Davis (October 12, 1876 – September 2, 1944) was an officer in the United States Army who served as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1922 to 1927.
Robert C. Davis | |
|---|---|
 Robert C. Davis as major general after 1922 | |
| Born | October 12, 1876 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | September 2, 1944 (aged 67) Elmsford, New York, US |
| Place of Burial | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1898–1927 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands | Adjutant General of the U.S. Army |
| Battles / wars | Spanish–American War Philippine–American War World War I |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) |
Early life
editRobert C. Davis was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on October 12, 1876. He attended Franklin & Marshall College before being appointed to the United States Military Academy in 1894. Davis graduated in 1898 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 17th Infantry Regiment.[1]
Spanish–American War
editDavis took part in the Spanish–American War, and saw action in Cuba. He was involved in the Santiago campaign and took part in the battles of El Caney and San Juan. He received the Silver Star for heroism at El Caney, and was recommended for a brevet promotion to First Lieutenant.[1]
Davis subsequently served in the Philippine–American War. In August 1899, he received a second Silver Star and promotion to brevet Captain for heroism while fighting Filipino insurgents. He remained in the Philippines until 1904, when he was assigned to West Point as a professor in the Department of Tactics.[1]
Post–Spanish–American War
editIn 1906, Davis returned to Cuba with the 17th Infantry. In 1909 he was assigned as aide-de-camp to Thomas Henry Barry. When Barry was appointed as West Point's Superintendent in 1911, Davis was assigned as the adjutant on Barry's staff.
Davis served again with the 17th Infantry, and then served again in the Philippines as a member of the 8th Infantry Regiment. For most of 1915, Davis was detailed as Inspector of the Philippine Scouts, and received promotion to Major.
World War I
edit
At the start of World War I Davis was assigned to the staff of the army's Adjutant General. In mid-1917 he went to France as Assistant to the Adjutant General of the American Expeditionary Forces. He later served as acting adjutant general and then adjutant general of the A.E.F., receiving a temporary promotion to brigadier general.
Post-World War I
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Following World War I Davis was assigned to the staff of the Army's Adjutant General, and participated on a board which reviewed War Department staff activities and made recommendations for personnel reorganization and improvements to processes and procedures.
From 1922 to 1927, Davis served as Adjutant General of the Army, receiving promotion to major general. His most notable accomplishment in this position was the organization and execution of a plan to pay bonuses to veterans of World War I.
Post-military career
editAfter retiring from the Army, Davis was President of Photomaton, Inc., a company which produced automatic camera photo booths.[1] He was also Executive Director of the New York Chapter of the American Red Cross,[1] and served as President of the West Point Association of Graduates.
Death and burial
editDavis died in Elmsford, New York on September 2, 1944[1] after suffering a heart attack while golfing at the Knollwood Country Club. He and his wife Ruby Hale are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[2]
Awards
editIn addition to his two Silver Stars, Davis received the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his World War I service.[3] The medal's citation states the following:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Robert Courtney Davis, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Adjutant General of the American Expeditionary Forces, General Davis had performed his exacting duties with high professional skill and administrative ability. The exceptional efficiency of the Adjutant General's Department under his direction was a material factor in the success of the Staff work at General Headquarters.[3]
He also received numerous foreign awards, including: the Legion of Honor (Commander) (France); Order of the Bath (Companion) (Great Britain); Order of the Crown (Commander) (Belgium); Order of the Crown (Commander) (Italy); Order of Prince Danilo I (Grand Cross) (Montenegro); and Medal of La Solidaridad (Second Class) (Panama).[1][4]
In 1941, Davis was conferred an honorary doctor of science degree by Washington & Jefferson College.[5]
Family
editIn 1902, Davis married Ruby Caroline Hale (1879–1959). They had no children.[1]
See also
edit
Bibliography
edit- Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). Generals in Khaki. Raleigh, North Carolina: Pentland Press. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). Generals in Khaki. Pentland Press, Inc. pp. 98–99. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
- ^ Burial Detail: Davis, Robert C (Section 30, Grave S-25) – ANC Explorer
- ^ a b "Valor awards for Robert C. Davis". Military Times.
- ^ "Colonel Robert C. Davis Nominated as Adjutant General". Army and Navy Register. Washington, D.C.: Army and Navy Publishing Company: 163. August 12, 1922.
- ^ Official Army Register. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. January 1, 1944. p. 1130. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
External links
edit- Memorial, Robert C. Davis (1898) at West Point Association of Graduates
- Robert Courtney Davis at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial website
- Robert C. Davis at Military Times Hall of Valor
- Cullum, George W. (1950). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U. S. Military Academy, Volume IX. p. 72.
