Retired U.S. Army Col. Paris D. Davis addresses the media just after receiving the Medal of Honor at the White House, March 3, 2023. (Army photo by Bernardo Fuller). The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
By: FEDweek StaffRetired Army Col. Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor from President Biden during a June 6 White House ceremony, for heroism the 83-year-old displayed nearly 58 years ago.
The record shows that then-Capt. Davis, a Green Beret, was in charge of a team of other Special Forces soldiers and a South Vietnamese army unit that attacked a Viet Cong camp on June 18, 1965. Davis and his men were met with a counterattack that significantly outnumbered them.
Davis rallied the men to stand up to the fight, rescued wounded and cut-off comrades, and remained with them once relief arrived – even after being seriously wounded. He is credited with saving the lives of four U.S. soldiers.
The award of the armed forces’ highest honor for valor in combat came after years of review, when it was determined the fact that Davis is Black in all likelihood prevented him receiving due recognition earlier.
“Colonel Davis is living proof that we are a stronger, more effective military by drawing on the talents of qualified Americans of every race, who want to answer the call to military service,” said Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks, as the soldier’s name was inducted into the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes a few days after the White House ceremony.
“Collectively, we never accepted defeat, nor did we let our guard down,” Davis said at the Pentagon event. “The enemy forces outnumbered us, but we never went into combat for any other reason but to win. During the 19 hours of that battle, I knew I had to stay positive and take care of my men. Looking back, I can hardly remember the sting of the grenade wounds to my hand, forearm, leg and face. I do remember though that so many others suffered more.”
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