Almost 60 years after he risked his life to save his fellow soldiers in Vietnam, one of the first Black officers in the Green Berets will finally receive the Medal of Honor he earned. In 1965, Colonel Paris Davis, then an Army captain, took part in a grueling raid near Saigon where nearly every soldier was wounded. Although Davis had been hit by a grenade and shot, he refused to leave behind his fellow soldiers, including Billy Waugh.
Waugh, who went on to have a 50-year career in the Special Forces and the CIA, submitted paperwork for Davis to receive the nation's highest combat decoration, the Medal of Honor, as did Davis’ commander. But Davis never received the award. His paperwork disappeared at least twice and members of his team believe that his race was a factor.
Over the decades, Davis’ fellow soldiers have lobbied for him to receive the award and after years of delays and bureaucratic hurdles, this week, President Joe Biden personally called Davis to tell him he will be receiving the Medal of Honor "for his remarkable heroism during the Vietnam War." Davis, who’s now 85-years-old, is grateful for all those who have worked so hard for so long to see that he was finally recognized, writing in a statement, "Our family appreciates the volunteer team that advocated for us through the years."
Source: CBS News
[Courtesy of Dr. Dave’s Ultimate Prep]
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]