By Bill Hendrick, Staff

They trooped in past the flag-draped coffin containing the body of Gen. Raymond Gilbert Davis, clad in his beloved dress blues with the blue-ribboned Medal of Honor clasped tightly around his neck. Many of the old Marines wore their dress uniforms, too, including more than a dozen generals who traveled from Washington to pay final respects to the man who, until his death Wednesday at age 88, was the most decorated American alive.

White-haired men, some in wheelchairs and others holding canes, dabbed at tears as Davis was eulogized by retired Marine Gen. Robert Barrow, 81, who described Davis as "the finest man I've ever known, a Marine's Marine. I loved him," he said, choking with emotion. More than 400 people packed the pews in the sanctuary and balcony of Davis' church, Conyers First United Methodist. Hundreds more watched the funeral on television screens set up in nearby churches and a city building.

Wayne Kerr, representing the family, thanked U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, who was in the first row of pews to the right of Gov. Sonny Perdue and the left of U.S. Rep. David Scott, for nominating Davis for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and said the general "left an example few of us can follow."

Barrow joked that had Davis been alive in "the War Between the States, William Tecumseh Sherman would have never gotten into Atlanta." Men who had known Davis during his service in World War II, the Korean War or in Vietnam brushed at tears when two young Marines walked in slowly and stood rigidly on each side of the coffin. One faced the casket, saluted, and bent over the body, carefully removing the Medal of Honor from Davis' neck and placing it on an 18-inch red velvet sheet, held by the other serviceman.

They both saluted and marched out. The medals were transferred to a mahogany box and given to Davis' wife of 62 years, Knox Davis, at the grave site at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in College Park. The flag that had draped his coffin was presented to her by Gen. Michael Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps. Seven riflemen fired a salute after the casket arrived, borne on a horse-drawn caisson.

Hero at Chosin

Davis, who won the nation's highest medal for heroism at the Chosin Reservoir in bitterly cold conditions, was the most decorated Marine of his generation. He was one of 94 men -- three Georgians -- to win the Medal of Honor in the Korean War. His chestful of awards also included the Navy Cross, the nation's second highest decoration for bravery, two Silver Stars and the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for valor.

In his autobiography, Davis told how he led about 700 Marines into what some considered a suicide mission at Chosin. Told to hold a key mountain pass to relieve a stranded rifle company and open the way to the sea for two Marine regiments, Davis led his men through eight miles of icy terrain against overwhelming Chinese forces. Davis said a sheen of ice covered his face and the bodies of all of his men. Davis was wounded in the fighting, which lasted from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5, 1950.

The general also led a division in the Vietnam War, then retired in 1972 as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps he joined in the 1930s. A native of Fitzgerald in South Georgia, Davis graduated from Tech High School in Atlanta and Georgia Tech. He spent his last years living in Conyers, still active when he died. He spoke often to schoolchildren and had been scheduled to make a speech Monday in Marietta.

The church was full of veterans from all branches of the military. Tommy Clack of Conyers was there in his wheelchair. He lost three limbs in Vietnam. Also there were frail men who ran up and down icy hills with Davis in Korea in December 1950. Two other Medal of Honor winners were in the church: retired Marine Maj. Gen. Jim Livingston, 64, who made the trip from New Orleans, and Harvey Barnum, assistant secretary of the Navy.

Mack Abbott, head of the Atlanta chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, led a half-dozen members of his organization, to which Davis was scheduled to speak on Sept. 27.

"I loved that man, I always did," said Abbott, holding the hand of hiswife, Alice. "He was the greatest Marine in history."

South Korea represented

That was a common refrain, from veterans of other nationalities, too. A contingent of South Korean Marines sat in silence in an adjacent auditorium. Louis Lin, 72-year-old chairman of the Republic of China Veterans Association in Atlanta, was spokesman for a half dozen members of his group, which he stressed represented Taiwan, not Communist China. "General Davis came to us on Aug. 30 and made a speech," Lin said. "It was his last speech in public. He was our hero."

When the funeral ended, Hagee walked just behind the casket as it was carried by seven young Marines to a white Cadillac hearse. Marines lined both sides of the street, saluting as the casket was placed inside. As the hearse inched away, Boy Scouts saluted, as did elderly residents of Conyers.

"We're all just overwhelmed," said Miles Davis, one of the general's sons. Miles Davis, 57, was wounded twice in Vietnam. His Purple Hearts were pinned on by his father. "We knew he had a lot of friends," he said Monday, "but we had no idea how many and how strongly they felt about him."

Members of a group called the Chosin Few for the place Davis made famous drove long distances to honor him. Harry Bruce, 75, who was a Marine sergeant in those "terribly cold days," said driving from Conroe, Texas, was the least he could do. "Thanks to General Davis, a lot of people are alive today who wouldn't have been had it not been for him," he said.

Colleagues' tributes

"He was the last of the generals, the last of the old breed." -- Retired Marine Master Sgt. Eric English of Blairsville

"I always enjoyed shaking his hand because I knew I was touching greatness." -- Mike Breedlove, a Conyers land planner working with a veterans foundation on a memorial to Georgia veterans

"Thanks to General Davis, a lot of people are alive today who wouldn't have been had it not been for him." -- Harry Bruce, 75, of Conroe, Texas, a sergeant at Chosin Reservoir in Korea, the action for which Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor

"He told you exactly what he thought. But, hell, he earned the right." -- Warren Park, Marine veteran who knew Davis through a Henry County VFW post

"I loved that man, I always did. He was the greatest Marine in history." -- Mack Abbott, head of the Atlanta chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association

-- Compiled by Michael Pearson and Bill Hendrick