Marshall E. Davis
Bio
Raised by a single mother in California during the Great Depression, Corporal Marshall E. Davis graduated from Sonora High School in 1949 with ambitions of running his own ranch. When war broke out, he chose action over delay; instead of remaining at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he asked the draft board to send him to the military immediately so he could later return to his studies. Fortunately, he completed eight weeks of basic training in his hometown after the Army reopened the Southwestern Signal Corps Camp. In Korea, he taught locals to operate generators, learned the written language, explored the countryside, and performed with the touring KMAG Hillbillies band. After returning home, he finished his undergraduate and master’s degrees, worked in a government-sponsored nuclear science program, and ultimately retired after a 30-year career with Texaco Oil Inc.
Video Clips
Contributions of Korea Military Advisory Group (KMAG)
Marshall E. Davis explains that the Korea Military Advisory Group, created in 1946 after the U.S.–Soviet division of Korea, helped form a Korean defense force within the Army’s 40th Infantry Division. This force operated as eight constabulary regiments, one for each province. After Japan withdrew, the U.S. Army guided Koreans in building a police force, and once war began, it trained those officers to become soldiers in the Korean Army.
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Sabotage of Generators
Marshall E. Davis recalls an incident involving former POWs and local villagers who may have sabotaged the generators positioned near a former POW camp. When transmitters failed, the generators were usually to blame. Assigned to night duty, he constantly watched for potential saboteurs who might disrupt their power supply.
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Awesome Doesn't Describe What Korea is Like Today!
Marshall E. Davis explains that he later returned to Korea for business, and his company even brought him back to his former post. He tells veterans considering a revisit that “awesome” hardly captures Korea’s remarkable transformation. Daegu, once a small town of only a few thousand, has become a high-rise city of more than three million. When he arrived at Kimpo Airport, he immediately noticed the sweeping bridges spanning the Han River.
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Life in Taegu
Marshall E. Davis recalls daily life in Taegu, where enlisted men lived near the generators he oversaw and had access to meal service and an NCO Club. He warmly remembers building friendships with the Korean soldiers who assisted him. Together, they visited homes, toured the countryside, and practiced written Korean, creating connections that enriched his service experience.
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