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Medal of Honor awarded to Green Beret after six-decade wait
Col. Paris Davis, 83, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joe Biden at a ceremony in the White House on Monday. Davis is being recognized for his actions during the Vietnam War, where he saved the lives of three fellow soldiers while under enemy fire.
Col. Paris D. Davis after receiving the Medal of Honor on March 3, 2023. (U.S. Army photo by Bernardo Fuller)
Davis, born in 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio was enlisted in the Army in 1963, served two tours of duty in Vietnam. It was during his tour in 1965 that he distinguished himself in combat. Davis and his unit were on a reconnaissance mission in the central highlands of Vietnam when they were ambushed by North Vietnamese forces.
During the intense battle, Davis and his unit were ambushed by hundreds of Viet Cong fighters. Despite suffering wounds to his legs and losing half a finger, Davis displayed extraordinary courage and leadership, saving the lives of three Americans under his command, and killing more than a dozen enemy fighters using a pistol, M16, machine gun, grenade, and a 60mm mortar.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today, President Biden awarded COL(R) Paris Davis, the Medal of Honor. COL Davis, then a CPT, was an ODA Commander with 5th SFG(A) deployed to South Vietnam. <a href="https://t.co/XTLU6abq0B">pic.twitter.com/XTLU6abq0B</a></p>— U.S Army WTF! Moments (@TheWTFNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWTFNation/status/1631837183555391488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Davis’ selflessness and unwavering commitment to his fellow soldiers in the face of incredible danger and adversity were truly remarkable. His courage and heroism during the battle served as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers, who rallied around him to repel the enemy and secure their position.
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For his actions, Davis was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military decoration for valor in combat.
However, it wasn’t until 2018, when his case was reviewed by the Pentagon’s Valor Awards Review Task Force, that Davis was recommended for the Medal of Honor. The review found that racial and ethnic bias may have played a role in the original decision to award Davis the Distinguished Service Cross instead of the Medal of Honor.
This racial discrimination was also recognized by President Biden “The Green Berets, like our country then, weren’t free from discrimination either. People pulled Paris aside to warn him. ‘Are you sure you want to join? There aren’t a lot of people who look like you in this outfit.'”
During Friday ceremony, President Biden spoke about Davis’ incredible bravery and selflessness. “Paris Davis is a true American hero,” Biden said. “His actions during the Vietnam War exemplify the highest ideals of our country and our military: courage, selflessness, and a commitment to one’s fellow soldiers.”
Davis was joined by family members and fellow soldiers who served with him during his time in the military. “I am truly honored to receive this award,” Davis said. “But I accept it on behalf of all the soldiers who served with me and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I was just doing my job.”
Davis’ Medal of Honor ceremony comes at a time when the military is grappling with issues of racial and ethnic bias. In his remarks, President Biden acknowledged this challenge and praised Davis for his role in breaking down barriers. “Paris Davis is a trailblazer,” Biden said. “He showed that in America, we judge people by their character and their actions, not by the color of their skin or their ethnicity.”
