Black Vietnam veteran finally honored with Medal of Honor

Distinguished guests, the president of the United States accompanied by Colonel Paris Davis, U S army retired the psalmist of old writes praise be to the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer my shield in whom I take refuge. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me as we mark this very special occasion in prayer, almighty God, author of liberty and champion of the oppressed. I praise you for the life, heroic leadership and distinctive service of your humble servant. Colonel retired Paris D Davis. Our army has always counted on our leaders to be fully committed to our nation’s ideals, to our army values and to all the soldiers under their command. Colonel Davis is *** warrior leader who demonstrated what it looks like under the most challenging of conditions. We are humbled and inspired by Colonel Davis’s example in the moments that mattered most to those with him. From the operational detachment, ALPHA 3 to 1/5 Special Forces Group, airborne And the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, 883rd Regional Force Company with him on that day. Of battle. In 1965, your servant displayed uncommon fortitude and courage and the willingness to sacrifice his own life to save others. The man under his charge looked to him for leadership and by your strength he delivered as Colonel Davis rightly received our nation’s highest military award for valor in action for distinguishing himself by acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. I humbly ask that his legacy not be defined by this moment or the receiving of this medal but made the legacy of this medal and the rich history. It bears be further evidence and enriched by the character, selflessness and heroism of Colonel Davis and May his life, which has been marked by *** commitment to you in *** sacred commitment to all that freedom, loving people cherish and hold dear serve as *** continued beacon of inspiration for all who witnessed today’s activities and learn of his courageous actions under fire. Finally made this ceremony serve as *** testament of hope for the world’s oppressed and *** terrible warning to the oppressor because our nation still has men and women like Colonel Davis in our ranks across our military services who stand ready to step into the breach. We thank you Lord for this reality is your most holy name. I pray amen. Please please be seated. I have to say at the outset I’ve had the great honor and we have other medal of honor recipients here. And uh that I’ve been able to give one of those medals and uh we have five here, but this secretary may be the most consequential day since I’ve been president. He’s an incredible man. I 158 years ago today, the white in this White house, President Lincoln was putting the final touches on his second inaugural address and he wrote, let us strive to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation’s wounds and care for him who shall have borne the battle today. 58 years after he bore the battle, we honor *** true hero over *** nation. Colonel Paris Davis, I’ve had *** chance to get to talk to him *** little bit. We talked on the phone and he doesn’t know we’re gonna talk *** lot more incredible guy. The medal of honor created during Lincoln’s presidency is our country’s highest military award recognizing Gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. That word Gallantry, it’s not much used these days, Gallantry, but I can think of no better word to describe Paris to describe you. I really can’t gallantry and everyone here feels exactly the same way that includes Secretary Austin and Secretary mcdonough and Secretary of the Army War meth and the vice chairman Grady and General mcconville, Representative Beyer. Where’s Representative Beyer? Thank you. Thank you for pushing this *** little bit. Appreciate it for joining us today. Now, as many of you know, Paris will be the first to tell you that he hates the word. I, that it was his team who served this team who sacrificed. So today, I’m truly honored to welcome one of those teammates, Ron D’s Dice. Where’s Ron Ron? He was the airborne spotter for that team and it’s only *** few days ago, right? I also want to thank previous medal of honor recipients for here who joined us to recognize uh their brother in arms, Leroy, Petry William Swenson, Melvin Morris Matthew Williams and Earl Pummeling. Stand up. You’re looking at courage in the flesh. And finally, uh Reagan, Stephanie Paris, you already know this. But uh your dad was *** hero but he didn’t have to win this medal for you to know that you knew it all along. You really did, didn’t you? When you were kids, you knew growing up? And you know, like you, I wish your brother Christopher still with us to see your dad’s final. Finally recognized his story. You know, it’s *** story that didn’t just begin the Vietnamese Vietnamese village 58 years ago Instead, picture Paris in 1956, the son of *** midwestern foundry worker starting his first year at Southern University in the heart of Louisiana. The college football team quickly noticed that Paris had the grit and the guts and needed on the team. So before long, Paris not only joined the team, but he’s named All American before us. *** very slow learner. This guy, I’ll tell you what but off the field, parasol, constant reminders of too many, too many. He was less than an American and that in the eyes of the law, he was less than *** person signs on bars that read whites only seats on busses where were off limits for African Americans school street shops divided by segregation prioress endured all of this and still chose to join his college ROTC unit, volunteering to serve *** country that in many places still refuse to serve people who look like him right away. It was clear that Paris was *** born warrior. He became an army ranger. Then he jumped at the chance to join the green Berets becoming one of the nation’s first black special Forces officers. Paris linked like the green blaze because they were elite. It wasn’t just as Paris once said, Joe here, Joe there, but it didn’t offend me. You said Joe here that, that didn’t bother me. But the green Berets like our country then weren’t free from discrimination either. People pull parrots aside to warn him. Are you sure you want to join? There are *** lot of people like you look like you in this outfit. Well, remember this was only 14 years after President Truman desegregated our military only 14 years later, but Paris didn’t listen to them and thank God he didn’t. Paris helped write the history of our nation. And this year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our first fully integrated armed forces and named Paris Davis will still stand alongside the nation’s pioneering heroes. You know, in the early hours of June 18, and his captain, then Captain Davis and his team with three of the green Berets were wrapping up *** job well done. And together they just finished *** 10 mile March through the night to support *** company of South Vietnamese soldiers on their first combat mission, *** raid against *** Vietcong thick in the jungle of song. The raid was *** success. But as the sun began to rise, the men heard that haunting sound ring out *** bugle, *** bugle, *** sure sign of *** counterattack. Within minutes, the jungle lit up with enemy fire. Hundreds of Viet Cong began to swarm. Captain Davis and his team pinning them down in *** rice *** with no cover. Captain Davis rallied his team to fight back, getting so close to the enemy. He was battling them hand to hand hours. This is the part that stuns me hours into that fight. Captain heard suddenly heard *** sound worse than the bugle, his teammate crying out for help. His team sergeant had been shot badly in his foot in his leg, trapping him in the middle of the patty and it got worse on the far side of the field. His weapons specialist was stuck in *** cesspit after being temporarily knocked out by shrapnel, you know, and even further beyond him was his medic who had been shot in the head. Captain Davis realized he was the last American standing without hesitation. I yelled, I’m coming for you. I’m coming for you. He called in friendly fire and gave *** little bit of cover to run out and rescue his team on his first attempt to get to team sergeant. Captain Davis was shot in the arm and had to turn back. Captain Davis waited for another window and sprinted back out again but his team sergeant was stuck. Captain Davis couldn’t fully break him free before here the return had to return to cover. He didn’t give up though. That’s not the green beret way for his third time as enemy fire rained down and he ran out. Captain Davis freed his team sergeant threw him over his shoulder and started carrying up the hill to safety. Captain Davis got about halfway up the hill before *** bullet pierced his leg. Then in front of him, another green beret sergeant who had just arrived to the battle to reinforce the team was shot in the chest and now needed to be rescued as well. Captain Davis limped up the hill with his team sergeant on his shoulder. He’d been fighting for around 10 hours but Captain Davis didn’t hesitate. He went back down the hill to retrieve the reinforcement had been just shot in the chest all £240 of him. Next, Captain Davis ran to his weapons specialist who was struck in that cesspit. Viet Cong fighters continue to spray gunfire across the field as Captain Davis through his teammate, *** rope pulled him out and began to haul him up the hill as well. But this time, the rescue helicopter, by this time, the rescue helicopter had landed. Captain Davis commander gave him *** direct order. Get on board. David’s response was just as direct sir. He said, I’m just not going to leave. I still have an American out there. I’m sure if he was still alive. Captain Davis began to plan how he would get his medic. Just the day before the Medicaid found out he was the good news. He was *** new father. His wife had given birth to the first child. Captain Davis was going to give him *** chance to see his baby boy. He pinpointed the medics position and began crawling toward him with gunfire and grenades still exploding around him. When he got there, the medics still alive asked him, am I gonna die? Am I gonna die? Captain David, not before me still fending off the Vietnam assailants. Captain Davis hauled his medic up the hill And nearly 20 hours, nearly 20 hours later after that bugle first rang, Captain Davis had saved each one of his fellow Americans, every single one just as the story of Paris. Davis did not begin in June 18th, 1965. It does not end there either. Captain Davis went on to become Colonel Davis serving more than 25 years in our military and earning *** phd. On top of that, he received *** civil star, the bronze star and the air medal, purple heart. And even after he hung up his uniform captain continued to serve the community, founding the Metro Herald, *** newspaper that focused on his local community and civil rights issues. I wish I could say that this story of Paris’s sacrifice On that day in 19 and 1965 was fully recognized and rewarded immediately. But sadly, we know they weren’t at the time, Captain Davis returned from war. The country is still battling, segregation, returned from Vietnam. Vietnam to experience some of his fellow soldiers crossing on the other side of the street when they saw him in America. And although the men who were with him in death, June Day immediately nominated Captain Davis received the medal of honor. Somehow the paper, the paperwork was never processed, not just once but twice, but you know what Captain Davis said? After learning, he would finally receive the medal of honor. Quote, America was behind me. America was behind me. He never lost faith, which I find astounding. He never stopped believing in the founding vision of our nation Vision that Lincoln kept alive 158 years ago. and *** vision Paris fought to defend 58 years ago, this vision for *** more perfect union when we’re all women and men are created equal. You know, we’re the most unique nation in the world where the only nation founded on an idea, every other nations founded based on *** philosophy based on ethnicity, religion, whatever an idea is captured and we hold these truths to be self evident that all men and women are created equal endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, life, liberty. We’ve never fully lived up to it, but we’ve never walked away from it. This is evidence. We’re still not gonna walk away from it. Look, folks, we never ever walked away from our troops who dare all and give all to our nation, Paris. You are everything this metal means. I mean, everything this metal means and look, you’re everything our generation aspired to be. You’re everything our nation is at our best, brave and big hearted, determined and devoted, selfless and steadfast American American. And now at long last, it’s my great honor to ask Lieutenant Colonel Row to read the citation the president of the United States of America authorized by act of Congress March 3rd, 18 63 has awarded in the name of Congress, the medal of honor to Captain Paris D Davis. United States Army for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. Captain Paris D Davis, commander detachment, *** 3 21 5th Special Forces Group Airborne First Special Forces distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an advisor to the 883rd Regional Force Company Army of the Republic of Vietnam during combat operations against an armed enemy in the vicinity of Bond Song Republic of Vietnam. On June 17th through 18th, 1965 Captain Davis and three other U S Special Forces advisers accompanied the Vietnamese 883rd Regional Force Company on its first combat mission, *** daring nighttime raid against *** Vietcong regional headquarters housing *** superior enemy force. Captain Davis advice and leadership allowed the company to gain the tactical advantage allowing it to surprise the unsuspecting enemy force and kill approximately 100 enemy soldiers while returning from the successful raid. The Regional Force company was ambushed and sustained several casualties. Captain Davis consistently exposed himself to the hostile arms small arms fire to rally the inexperienced and disorganized company. He expertly directed both artillery and small arms fire enabling other elements of the company to reach his position although wounded in the leg. He aided in the evacuation of other wounded men in his unit but refused medical evacuation himself following the arrival of air support. Captain Davis directed artillery fire within 30 m of his own position in an attempt to halt the enemy’s advance. Then with complete disregard for his own life, he braved intense enemy fire to cross an open field to rescue his seriously wounded and immobilized team sergeant while carrying the sergeant up *** hill to *** position of relative safety. Captain Davis was again wounded by enemy fire despite too painful wounds, Captain Davis again refused medical evacuation. Remained with the troops fought bravely and provided pivotal leadership and inspiration to the Regional Force Company as it repelled several Vietcong assaults on their position over *** period of several hours when friendly reinforcements finally arrived. Captain Davis again refused medical evacuation until he had recovered. And U S advisor under his command who had been wounded during the initial ambush and presumed dead while personally recovering the wounded soldier, he found him severely wounded but still clinging to life. Captain Davis directed the helicopter extraction of his wounded colleague not leaving the battlefield himself until after all from friendly forces were recovered or medically evacuated. Captain Davis, heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of his own life are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army. Ladies and gentlemen, please receive this benediction, gracious and everlasting God as we depart this ceremony, inspired by the courageous actions of Colonel Davis help us to follow his selfless example. As we serve our nation’s people. May our participation in today’s ceremony coupled with the strengthening and shaping of your spirit to compel us to live lives of integrity and valor for the good of the nation, for the good of our families and for the good of humankind around the world bless and protect our armed forces as they preserve our precious freedoms. Keep the lamp of liberty burning bright on the United States of America and our allies around the world and grant us all your grace to meet the challenges ahead, the strength to overcome every obstacle and in part to us, the wisdom and the will to do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly before you all the days of our lives.

File video above: Biden awards four Medals of Honor for Vietnam heroism Nearly 60 years after he was recommended for the nation’s highest military award, retired Col. Paris Davis, one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat, received the Medal of Honor on Friday for his bravery in the Vietnam War.At a crowded White House ceremony, Davis emphasized the positive of the honor rather than negative of the delay, saying, “It is in the best interests of America that we do things like this.”Thanking President Joe Biden, who draped a ribbon with the medal around his neck, he said, “God bless you, God bless all, God bless America.”The belated recognition for the 83-year-old Virginia resident came after the recommendation for his medal was lost, resubmitted — and then lost again.It wasn’t until 2016 — half a century after Davis risked his life to save some of his men under fire — that advocates painstakingly recreated and resubmitted the paperwork.Biden described Davis as a “true hero” for risking his life amid heavy enemy fire to haul injured soldiers under his command to safety. When a superior ordered him to safety, according to Biden, Davis replied, “Sir, I’m just not going to leave. I still have an American out there.” He went back into the firefight to retrieve an injured medic.“You are everything this medal means,” Biden told Davis. “You’re everything our nation is at our best. Brave and big hearted, determined and devoted, selfless and steadfast.”Biden said Davis should have received the honor years ago, describing segregation in the U.S. when he returned home and questioning the delay in awarding him the medal.“Somehow the paperwork was never processed,” Biden said. “Not just once. But twice.”Davis doesn’t dwell on the delayed honor and says he doesn’t know why decades had to pass before it finally arrived.“Right now I’m overwhelmed,” he told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday, the eve of the medal ceremony.“When you’re fighting, you’re not thinking about this moment,” Davis said. “You’re just trying to get through that moment.”“That moment” stretched over nearly 19 hours and two days in mid-June 1965.Davis, then a captain and commander with the 5th Special Forces Group, engaged in nearly continuous combat during a pre-dawn raid on a North Vietnamese army camp in the village of Bong Son in Binh Dinh province.He engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the North Vietnamese, called for precision artillery fire and thwarted the capture of three American soldiers — all while suffering wounds from gunshots and grenade fragments. He used his pinkie finger to fire his rifle after his hand was shattered by an enemy grenade, according to reports.Davis repeatedly sprinted into an open rice paddy to rescue members of his team, according to the ArmyTimes. His entire team survived.“That word ‘gallantry’ is not much used these days,” Biden said. “But I can think of no better word to describe Paris.”Davis, from Cleveland, retired in 1985 at the rank of lieutenant colonel and now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington. Biden called him several weeks ago to deliver the news.He says the wait in no way lessens the honor.“It heightens the thing, if you’ve got to wait that long,” he said. “It’s like someone promised you an ice cream cone. You know what it looks like, what it smells like. You just haven’t licked it.”Davis’ commanding officer recommended him for the military’s top honor, but the paperwork disappeared. He eventually was awarded a Silver Star, the military’s third-highest combat medal, but members of Davis’ team have argued that his skin color was a factor in the disappearance of his Medal of Honor recommendation.“I believe that someone purposely lost the paperwork,” Ron Deis, a junior member of Davis’ team in Bong Son, told the AP in a separate interview.Deis, now 79, helped compile the recommendation that was submitted in 2016. He said he knew Davis had been recommended for the Medal of Honor shortly after the battle in 1965, and he spent years wondering why Davis hadn’t been awarded the medal. Nine years ago he learned that a second nomination had been submitted “and that also was somehow, quote, lost.”“But I don’t believe they were lost,” Deis said. “I believe they were intentionally discarded. They were discarded because he was Black, and that’s the only conclusion that I can come to.”Army officials say there is no evidence of racism in Davis’ case.“We’re here to celebrate the fact that he got the award, long time coming,” Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, told the AP. “We, the Army, you know, we haven’t been able to see anything that would say, ‘Hey, this is racism.'”“We can’t know that,” Roberson said.In early 2021, Christopher Miller, then the acting defense secretary, ordered an expedited review of Davis’ case. He argued in an opinion column later that year that awarding Davis the Medal of Honor would address an injustice.“Some issues in our nation rise above partisanship,” Miller wrote. “The Davis case meets that standard.”Davis’ daughter, Regan Davis Hopper, a mom of two teenage sons, told the AP that she only learned of her dad’s heroism in 2019. Like him, she said she tries not to dwell on her disappointment in how the situation was handled.“I try not to think about that. I try not to let that weigh me down and make me lose the thrill and excitement of the moment,” Hopper said. “I think that’s most important, to just look ahead and think about how exciting it is for America to meet my dad for the first time. I’m just proud of him.”

WASHINGTON —

File video above: Biden awards four Medals of Honor for Vietnam heroism

Nearly 60 years after he was recommended for the nation’s highest military award, retired Col. Paris Davis, one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat, received the Medal of Honor on Friday for his bravery in the Vietnam War.

At a crowded White House ceremony, Davis emphasized the positive of the honor rather than negative of the delay, saying, “It is in the best interests of America that we do things like this.”

Thanking President Joe Biden, who draped a ribbon with the medal around his neck, he said, “God bless you, God bless all, God bless America.”

The belated recognition for the 83-year-old Virginia resident came after the recommendation for his medal was lost, resubmitted — and then lost again.

It wasn’t until 2016 — half a century after Davis risked his life to save some of his men under fire — that advocates painstakingly recreated and resubmitted the paperwork.

Biden described Davis as a “true hero” for risking his life amid heavy enemy fire to haul injured soldiers under his command to safety. When a superior ordered him to safety, according to Biden, Davis replied, “Sir, I’m just not going to leave. I still have an American out there.” He went back into the firefight to retrieve an injured medic.

“You are everything this medal means,” Biden told Davis. “You’re everything our nation is at our best. Brave and big hearted, determined and devoted, selfless and steadfast.”

Biden said Davis should have received the honor years ago, describing segregation in the U.S. when he returned home and questioning the delay in awarding him the medal.

“Somehow the paperwork was never processed,” Biden said. “Not just once. But twice.”

Davis doesn’t dwell on the delayed honor and says he doesn’t know why decades had to pass before it finally arrived.

“Right now I’m overwhelmed,” he told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday, the eve of the medal ceremony.

“When you’re fighting, you’re not thinking about this moment,” Davis said. “You’re just trying to get through that moment.”

“That moment” stretched over nearly 19 hours and two days in mid-June 1965.

Davis, then a captain and commander with the 5th Special Forces Group, engaged in nearly continuous combat during a pre-dawn raid on a North Vietnamese army camp in the village of Bong Son in Binh Dinh province.

He engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the North Vietnamese, called for precision artillery fire and thwarted the capture of three American soldiers — all while suffering wounds from gunshots and grenade fragments. He used his pinkie finger to fire his rifle after his hand was shattered by an enemy grenade, according to reports.

Davis repeatedly sprinted into an open rice paddy to rescue members of his team, according to the ArmyTimes. His entire team survived.

“That word ‘gallantry’ is not much used these days,” Biden said. “But I can think of no better word to describe Paris.”

Davis, from Cleveland, retired in 1985 at the rank of lieutenant colonel and now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington. Biden called him several weeks ago to deliver the news.

He says the wait in no way lessens the honor.

“It heightens the thing, if you’ve got to wait that long,” he said. “It’s like someone promised you an ice cream cone. You know what it looks like, what it smells like. You just haven’t licked it.”

Davis’ commanding officer recommended him for the military’s top honor, but the paperwork disappeared. He eventually was awarded a Silver Star, the military’s third-highest combat medal, but members of Davis’ team have argued that his skin color was a factor in the disappearance of his Medal of Honor recommendation.

“I believe that someone purposely lost the paperwork,” Ron Deis, a junior member of Davis’ team in Bong Son, told the AP in a separate interview.

Deis, now 79, helped compile the recommendation that was submitted in 2016. He said he knew Davis had been recommended for the Medal of Honor shortly after the battle in 1965, and he spent years wondering why Davis hadn’t been awarded the medal. Nine years ago he learned that a second nomination had been submitted “and that also was somehow, quote, lost.”

“But I don’t believe they were lost,” Deis said. “I believe they were intentionally discarded. They were discarded because he was Black, and that’s the only conclusion that I can come to.”

Army officials say there is no evidence of racism in Davis’ case.

“We’re here to celebrate the fact that he got the award, long time coming,” Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, told the AP. “We, the Army, you know, we haven’t been able to see anything that would say, ‘Hey, this is racism.'”

“We can’t know that,” Roberson said.

In early 2021, Christopher Miller, then the acting defense secretary, ordered an expedited review of Davis’ case. He argued in an opinion column later that year that awarding Davis the Medal of Honor would address an injustice.

“Some issues in our nation rise above partisanship,” Miller wrote. “The Davis case meets that standard.”

Davis’ daughter, Regan Davis Hopper, a mom of two teenage sons, told the AP that she only learned of her dad’s heroism in 2019. Like him, she said she tries not to dwell on her disappointment in how the situation was handled.

“I try not to think about that. I try not to let that weigh me down and make me lose the thrill and excitement of the moment,” Hopper said. “I think that’s most important, to just look ahead and think about how exciting it is for America to meet my dad for the first time. I’m just proud of him.”

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