AFTER A STORIED CAREER, PARIS DAVIS IS FINALLY RECEIVING HIS MEDAL OF HONOR


By bblouin
Retired U.S. Army Col. Paris Davis conducts media training at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Feb. 27, 2023.

War is always going to require men to go above and beyond on the battlefield, but there are times when someone takes this to an extreme level. This particular moment would occur in South Vietnam when Paris Davis was engaged with the Viet Cong. Yet, while the second-best thing about the U.S. Army is its ability to work together as a well-oiled machine, the first-best characteristic is the ability of Soldiers to sacrifice themselves for the good of others. Despite receiving orders to leave the area, Paris Davis would remain in the thick of combat to rescue his fellow Soldiers. Now, he’s finally getting the recognition he deserved all those years ago. Related: Heroic Black Medal of Honor Recipients Had To Fight for Recognition

Paris Davis Is Finally Receiving the Medal of Honor

It happened on the afternoon of June 18, 1965, in South Vietnam. Capt. Paris Davis, a Black Special Forces Officer, would arrive after disregarding orders to leave. Davis had been fighting the Viet Cong and saving wounded men for 19 hours after being told to abandon them. This meant Davis, with no regard for his own safety, would end up saving at least three Americans while facing heavy fire from hundreds of Viet Cong. Despite having his finger blown off by a grenade, sustaining leg injuries due to bullets, and additional wounds (eight in total), Davis was successful. Over a dozen enemies would fall at the hands of Paris Davis during the heated battle. As the man of honor would mention later in an interview, Davis was "stacking bodies the way you do canned goods.” The fight would call for Capt. Davis to make use of an array of weaponry, including the need for setting up a 60mm mortar on his own. The bravery of the man who would become Col. Paris Davis was on full display. Colonel Paris Davis was only 26 years old during these events while serving as one of the first Black Green Berets in the Army. Despite disobeying an order, this heroic moment was enough to have Davis nominated for the Medal of Honor. However, this wouldn’t come to pass officially for a long time. The U.S. Army somehow lost his paperwork not once, but twice before today.

Previous Attempts for Recognition Went Missing

When it comes to the description of awards in the U.S. military, you’ll find that the Medal of Honor is the highest achievement any troop can achieve in their military career. It takes exceptional service and a range of specific criteria to receive the award and Paris Davis definitely fits the description. Suggested Read: Get To Know Doris Miller, the First Black Person To Earn the Navy Cross But twice his paperwork was lost, even as his fellow Soldiers fought to have him receive the medal they felt he rightfully deserved. Those in support questioned why the Army lost his Medal of Honor paperwork, and if the color of Davis's skin was the reason for these mishaps. Things would look even worse when it was discovered that Davis's Commander wanted an inquiry after the paperwork was lost but never got a clear answer about what had happened. Resubmission took place, and again, the submission was lost. Yes, Davis received the Silver Star and a Purple Heart, but during a time in which the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, it was clear that racially charged motives were keeping the Medal of Honor away from one of its newest deserving recipients. "I don't think, I know race was a factor," Davis once said. But thankfully, things are finally on the path they should have been all those decades ago. President Joe Biden notified Davis that the Medal of Honor is finally to become his in 2023. The efforts of Paris Davis in the U.S. Army will finally be recognized for what they were, a shining example of what makes a Soldier, a Soldier.

Paris Davis, Like Many Black Veterans, Deserved Better Treatment

An all too common, reoccurring theme among Black Veterans is that the treatment they suffered while serving their country has been subpar throughout history. The irony of having to endure such hatred and treatment with a lack of personal freedoms while defending the freedom of others is beyond appalling. But while we can’t go back in time nor rewrite history, it is encouraging to remember the positive strides taken since then. There are still issues to address, but equality continues to move forward as more and more people stand up for what is right. Black troops and troops of any creed, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender deserve equal treatment and recognition for their heroic actions. The story of Paris Davis sums up what it takes to be a Soldier in the U.S. Army. His bravery and combat skills didn’t just help serve our country but directly saved lives in Vietnam. By remembering his heroism we preserve his legacy and maintain integrity within the American Armed Forces. Read Next: What We Know About the New $230M National Medal of Honor Museum


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