I R A D A V I S
* 1 9 3 0 -- 1 9 9 9 *
Ira Davis, US
Marine Corps
passed
away in the early morning hours on February 5, 1999 in South San Francisco. He served
during 2 major conflicts, the Korea War and Cold War. Ira was a member and past commander
of many of the local veteran service organizations ( Korean War Association, AMVET Post
53, American Legion Post 409, Veterans of Foreign Wars 7427, Jewish War Veteran and
others).
Ira was a member and Chairman Emeritus of the San Mateo Veterans Employment Committee of San Mateo County for 4 1/2 years. Upon coming to San Mateo County Ira had a lot of time on his hands so he jumped right into the fire and volunteered anything he could do to help the veterans and veteran programs in this county. He always did it with a positive attitude and was always eager to help veterans. Ira’s legacy was his ability to motivate and inspire people to help veterans. Ira found a way to get things done. Ira had been instrumental in making our Veterans Employment Committee very successful and served as our Chairman from 1997 to 1998. Ira had a gift, he was exceptional in working with people. He was very personable and persuasive. He devoted many hours on veteran employment issues, chairing the VEC and organizing three job fairs, co-sponsoring over 15 public TV shows on veteran issues in general and employment, job search workshops, lunches & bus pass programs, and much much more. He was recognized by the VEC with the title of Chairman Emeritus upon completion of his last term of office. He was recognized by the San Mateo Board of Supervisors as the recipient of the annual Clyde Clark Memorial Veterans Community Service Award for 1999.
In recent years before coming to San Mateo County, Ira had been a key resource of the National Korean War Veterans Association and its efforts to raise funds to build the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C. He was very happy and proud of this venture.
Ira Davis, (truly one of the proud and few—a Marine) more than exemplified his outstanding role and commitment in our community as a veteran helping veterans, he truly "Cared Enough To Make A Difference"! His efforts have not gone unnoticed and he will be greatly missed by all whom he has touched in this life.
Semper Fi, Ira Davis. Thanks for a job well done.
Published in Vet Press, written by Jim Blank & Sheryl Shaffer, Feb. 1999
Ira was raised in Southern California, born in East L.A. 1930. He graduated from Hollywood High School in 1949. He also attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA.
Ira was a combat veteran of the Korean War who served three years in the U.S. Marine Corps
from October 1951 to October 1954. He served in a medical battalion for 13 months in "A" Med lst Marines. He returned to El Toro Air Base where he met a woman Marine named Ruth Comfort whom he married in 1953 and had 3 lovely daughters and 2 grandchildren, Rebecca Biram and grandson Kevin Biram.
Ira was laid to rest on February 19, 1999 at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
