18 May 2006 A Marine's Marine He quit high school at age 17 to join the Corps and made Master Sergeant (E-7) in seven years. He was seven years older than me, and I wanted to be a Marine like him. I went to Vietnam in December 1965; he was stationed in Cumberland, MD with the I&I staff (he had requested to go from MSgt to 1stSgt). Major James Day was the I&I. Mel requested orders to Vietnam, and when he got in-country (Hotel Co, 2ndBn 4th Mar) he submitted an Administrative Action (AA) form requesting that I be transferred to Okinawa, while forging my name. Two brothers were not supposed to be in Vietnam at the same time. I got in trouble with my 1stSgt and had a hell of a time explaining that I did not submit the AA form. We finally got that squared away, and I had the opportunity to visit with Mel when his unit moved up from Chu Lai. He had been selected for promotion to Sergeant Major and was the Battalion SgtMaj. Coincidentally, Major Day arrived to become my Battalion C.O., 1stBn, 9thMar. Mel was always looking out for his Marines and constantly visiting the rifle companies. He used to joke with me about hurrying up and getting promoted so that we would be the only brothers on active duty as Sergeant Majors. I wasn't fast enough, and was a Gunnery Sergeant when he died. Sorry, Mel. Semper Fi, Earl From his brother, SgtMaj Earl Davis ecdavis@cox.net

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall Sergeant Major Melvin G. Davis was serving as the Battalion Sergeant Major for 3rd Bn, 1st Marines at the time of his death. The 3/1 Marines Command Chronology for January 1967 contains the following entry: "211315H - The Battalion Commanding Officer's vehicle was ambushed on the MSR at BT 067685 receiving three or four rounds of small arms fire resulting in one USMC KIA (the Battalion Sergeant Major)." Sergeant Major Davis is buried in Site 1985, Section 12, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

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