John Kerry Davis (March 14, 1927 – July 31, 2019), also known as J.K. Davis, was a United States Marine Corps four-star general. Davis, a Vietnam War veteran and naval aviator, served as the Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (1977–1978) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1978-1978). His final assignment was as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1, 1983 to June 1, 1986. Biography Early life and Military career Davis was born on March 14, 1927, in Hagan, New Mexico. He graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1945, and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve, attaining the rank of private first class prior to being released to inactive duty. He holds a B.A. degree in Social Studies from the University of New Mexico (1950), and an M.P.A. degree in Public Administration from George Washington University (1963). He was commissioned a U.S. Marine Corps second lieutenant in June 1950. Upon completing The Basic School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, in March 1951, Davis was assigned as a platoon commander, 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif. He was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1952, and the following October he began flight training at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. He was promoted to captain in December 1953, and designated a Naval Aviator in June 1954. Davis served as a training officer with VMF(N)-542 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. He remained in that billet until December 1954, when he was transferred to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, serving in Korea and Japan, as the S-4 Officer, and later, as the S-1 Officer, Marine All-Weather Fighter Squadron 513, Marine Aircraft Group 12. He returned to the United States in May 1956, as Operations Officer, Marine Air Control Squadron 4, Marine Wing Headquarters Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, at MCAS El Toro. He was later reassigned and served consecutively as the aviation safety officer in VMA-121, MAG-15, and VMA-311. Vietnam War In July 1959, Davis was transferred to the Naval Air Station Beeville, Texas, as S-3 Officer, Training Squadron 26. He was promoted to major in February 1961, and in July 1962, attended the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He completed the course in June 1963, and was ordered to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, serving concurrently as S-3 Officer, Marine Wing Headquarters Group 1, and as Officer-in-Charge, Tactical Air