Phillip Davidson
Encyclopedia
Phillip Buford Davidson, Jr. (November 26, 1915 – February 7, 1996) was an American Lieutenant general, who served in World War II
, the Korean War
, and the Vietnam War
.
Davidson was born on November 26, 1915 in Hachita, New Mexico. Davidson attended West Point
, graduating in 1939. During World War II
, he served as assistant intelligence officer
in the 96th Infantry Division. Later, he served as a squadron commander in George Patton's Third Army.
Following the War, he was assigned as an instructor to the Army's School of Intelligence in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Starting in 1948 and continuing throughout the Korean War
, Davidson was chief, Plans and Estimates Branch, in General Douglas MacArthur
's intelligence office. It was during this time that occurred one of the US Army's greatest intelligence failures in history - the failure to predict Chinese entry into the Korean war.
In 1969, while assigned as commanding General of the Army training center at Fort Ord
, California
, Davidson was the respondent
in the United States Supreme Court decision Parisi v. Davidson
. In that case, the court granted habeas relief to a soldier seeking an honorable discharge as a conscientious objector
.
During the Vietnam War, 1967 until 1969, Davidson was the chief of US intelligence in Vietnam
, under the command of William Westmoreland
and later Creighton Abrams
. From May 3, 1971 to September 30, 1972, Davidson, then a Major General, was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters, Department of the Army. He later was promoted to Lieutenant General.
In 1988, he published Vietnam at War: The History 1946-1975, (ISBN 0195067924) which is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive accounts of the Indochina wars
. He followed it up in 1990 with Secrets of the Vietnam War (ISBN 0891413820), where he described his experiences in Vietnam.
Davidson died February 7, 1996 in San Antonio, Texas
. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
Davidson is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Davidson was born on November 26, 1915 in Hachita, New Mexico. Davidson attended West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, graduating in 1939. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served as assistant intelligence officer
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
in the 96th Infantry Division. Later, he served as a squadron commander in George Patton's Third Army.
Following the War, he was assigned as an instructor to the Army's School of Intelligence in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Starting in 1948 and continuing throughout the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Davidson was chief, Plans and Estimates Branch, in General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
's intelligence office. It was during this time that occurred one of the US Army's greatest intelligence failures in history - the failure to predict Chinese entry into the Korean war.
In 1969, while assigned as commanding General of the Army training center at Fort Ord
Fort Ord
Fort Ord was a U.S. Army post on Monterey Bay in California. It was established in 1917 as a maneuver area and field artillery target range and was closed in September 1994. Fort Ord was one of the most attractive locations of any U.S. Army post, because of its proximity to the beach and California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Davidson was the respondent
Respondent
A respondent is a person who is called upon to issue a response to a communication made by another. In legal usage, this specifically refers to the defendant in a legal proceeding commenced by a petition, or to an appellee, or the opposing party, in an appeal of a decision by an initial fact-finder...
in the United States Supreme Court decision Parisi v. Davidson
Parisi v. Davidson
Parisi v. Davidson, 405 U.S. 34 , was a United States Supreme Court case resulting in the grant of habeas corpus relief to a soldier, Joseph Parisi, seeking an honorable discharge as a conscientious objector. The case was argued on October 19 and 20, 1971 and decided on February 23, 1972. The...
. In that case, the court granted habeas relief to a soldier seeking an honorable discharge as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
.
During the Vietnam War, 1967 until 1969, Davidson was the chief of US intelligence in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, under the command of William Westmoreland
William Westmoreland
William Childs Westmoreland was a United States Army General, who commanded US military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak , during the Tet Offensive. He adopted a strategy of attrition against the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the North Vietnamese Army. He later served as...
and later Creighton Abrams
Creighton Abrams
Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. was a general in the United States Army who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968–72 which saw U.S. troop strength in Vietnam fall from a peak of 543,000 to 49,000. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 until shortly...
. From May 3, 1971 to September 30, 1972, Davidson, then a Major General, was the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters, Department of the Army. He later was promoted to Lieutenant General.
In 1988, he published Vietnam at War: The History 1946-1975, (ISBN 0195067924) which is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive accounts of the Indochina wars
Indochina Wars
The Indochina Wars were a series of wars fought in Southeast Asia from 1947 until 1979, between nationalist Vietnamese against French, American, and Chinese forces. The term "Indochina" originally referred to French Indochina, which included the current states of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. In...
. He followed it up in 1990 with Secrets of the Vietnam War (ISBN 0891413820), where he described his experiences in Vietnam.
Davidson died February 7, 1996 in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Davidson is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
The Military Intelligence Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame established by the Military Intelligence Corps of the United States Army in 1988 to honor soldiers and civilians who have made exceptional contributions to Military Intelligence...
.