Sammy L. Davis
{{short description|American soldier}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Sammy L. Davis
|image= Sammy Davis speaking 2009 crop.jpg
|image_size=
|alt= Head and shoulders of a blond-haired white man in military uniform, standing before a microphone. His right hand is touching a medal hanging from a light blue ribbon around his neck.
|caption= Sammy Davis in July 2009
|nickname= The Real Forrest Gump
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1946|11|1}}
|birth_place= Dayton, Ohio, United States
|death_date=
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United States
|branch= United States Army
|serviceyears= 1965–1984
|rank= Sergeant First Class
|servicenumber=
|unit= Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery Regiment
|commands=
|battles= Vietnam War
|awards= Medal of Honor
Silver Star
Purple Heart (2)
Sachem Award
|spouse= Dixie Marie Taylor {{sfn|Davis|2016}}
{{marriage|Peggy Jo Martin|1968|2004|end=died}}{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
Sammy Lee Davis (born November 1, 1946) is an American soldier who served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and was awarded the nation's highest military medal for valor, the Medal of Honor.
Early years
Born in Dayton, Ohio, on November 1, 1946, Davis was raised in French Camp, California. His family had a long tradition of military service; his grandfather served in the Spanish–American War, his father Robert Davis was in World War II, and his brothers Hubert ("Buddy") and Darrell Davis served in Korea and Vietnam, respectively. Davis attended Manteca High School in Manteca, California, where he was a member of the football and diving teams. He also participated in Sea Scouting in Stockton. After his junior year of high school, Davis' family moved to Indiana.{{cite web|url=https://www.myservicepride.com/content/medal-of-honor-we-honor-you-by-telling-your-story/|title=We honor you by telling your story – Medal of Honor|work=MyServicePride.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073018/https://www.myservicepride.com/content/medal-of-honor-we-honor-you-by-telling-your-story/|archive-date=2016-03-04}} He graduated from Mooresville High School in 1966.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mooresvilleschools.org/alumni/alumni-of-the-year-and-wall-of-success|title=Alumni of the Year and Wall of Success — Mooresville Schools|website=www.mooresvilleschools.org|access-date=2017-05-10|archive-date=2019-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207154012/https://www.mooresvilleschools.org/alumni/alumni-of-the-year-and-wall-of-success|url-status=dead}}
Military career
Davis enlisted in the United States Army from Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1965.
In March 1967, Davis was sent to South Vietnam as a private first class, and was assigned to Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.
On November 18, 1967, his unit at Firebase Cudgel ({{Coord|10.4198|N|105.991|E|display=inline}}){{cite web|url=http://5thbattalion.tripod.com/cudgel.html|title=THE 5TH BATTALION ASSOCIATION – Fire Support Base Cudgel|work=tripod.com}} west of Cai Lay, fell under machine gun fire and heavy mortar attack by an estimated three companies of Viet Cong from the 261st Viet Cong Main Force Battalion, which swarmed the area from the south and then west. Upon detecting an enemy position, Davis manned a machine gun to give his comrades covering fire so they could fire artillery in response. Davis was wounded, but ignored warnings to take cover, taking over the unit's burning howitzer and firing several shells himself. He also disregarded his inability to swim due to a broken back, and crossed a river there on an air mattress to help rescue three wounded American soldiers. He ultimately found his way to another howitzer site to continue fighting the NVA attack until they fled. The battle lasted two hours.
Davis was subsequently promoted to sergeant and received the Medal of Honor the following year from President Lyndon B. Johnson.[http://www.mrfa2.org/MOHdavis.htm Mobile Riverine Force Association]. Mrfa2.org (1946-11-01). Retrieved on 2012-06-18. After he was presented the medal at the White House ceremony, Davis played "Oh Shenandoah" on his harmonica in memory of the men he served with in Vietnam.{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/fD3EOZJtcUA| archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD3EOZJtcUA| title = Medal of Honor recipient Sammy Davis playing Shenandoah | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Later years
In 1994, footage of his Medal of Honor award ceremony was used in the film Forrest Gump, with actor Tom Hanks's head superimposed over that of Davis.{{cite web |last1=Collier |first1=Peter |title=The 'Real' Forrest Gump: Medal of Honor Recipient Sammy L. Davis |url=https://www.military.com/history/real-forrest-gump-sammy-l-davis.html |website=Military.com |access-date=20 June 2020 |language=en}}
Davis tells his story in the 2002 documentary A Time For Honor.
In July 2005, while in Indianapolis, Davis' medal was stolen out of the trunk of his car. It was recovered a few days later in the neighboring White River.[http://www.theindychannel.com/news/4737478/detail.html Veteran's Missing Medal of Honor Found]. TheIndyChannel.com (2005-07-18). Retrieved on 2012-06-18.
On July 4, 2010, Davis helped celebrate the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America at Arlington Park. Davis entered scouting at the age of 9.[http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=391915 Daily Herald (Published: 7/5/2010)] He has also been honored by the Joe Foss Institute for his dedication to serving America.
Davis is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In October 2024, Davis joined 15 other Medal of Honor recipients in publicly endorsing Donald Trump for president.{{Cite news |last1=Singman |first1=Brooke |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/we-believe-donald-trump-more-than-dozen-medal-honor-recipients-endorse-former-president |title='We believe in Donald Trump': More than a dozen Medal of Honor recipients endorse former president |publisher=Fox News |date=12 October 2024 |access-date=October 12, 2024}}
Military awards
File:Lyndon Johnson with 5 MOH recipients 29-2620M.JPG on November 19, 1968, along with four fellow recipients: Gary Wetzel, Dwight H. Johnson, James Allen Taylor, and Angelo Liteky.]]
Davis's military decorations and awards include:
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="12"|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|name=Silver Star ribbon|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Purple Heart ribbon|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon|width=106}}18px18px |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}} |
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}}106px |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| 1st row
|colspan="12"| Medal of Honor |
|---|
| 2nd row
|colspan="4"| Silver Star |colspan="4"| Purple Heart |colspan="4"| Good Conduct Medal |
| 3rd row
|colspan="4"| National Defense Service Medal |colspan="4"| Vietnam Service Medal |colspan="4"| Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal |
| Unit Citations |colspan="6"| Presidential Unit Citation |colspan="6"| Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
=Medal of Honor=
{{center|Sammy Lee Davis}}
{{center|Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Private First Class), U.S. Army, Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division}}
{{center|Place and date: West of Cai Lay, Republic of Vietnam, 18 November 1967}}
{{center|Entered service at: Indianapolis, Indiana}}
{{center|Born: 1 November 1946, Dayton, Ohio}}
Citation:
{{quote|For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty. SGT Davis (then PFC) distinguished himself during the early morning hours while serving as a cannoneer with Battery C at a remote fire support base. At approximately 0200 hours, the fire support base was under heavy enemy mortar attack. Simultaneously, an estimated reinforced Viet Cong battalion launched a fierce ground assault upon the fire support base. The attacking enemy drove to within 25 meters of the friendly positions. Only a river separated the Viet Cong from the fire support base. They were detecting a nearby enemy position, Sgt. Davis seized a machine gun and provided covering fire for his gun crew as they attempted to bring direct artillery fire on the enemy. Despite his efforts, an enemy recoilless rifle round scored a direct hit upon the artillery piece. The resultant blast hurled the gun crew from their weapon and blew Sgt. Davis into a foxhole. He struggled to his feet and returned to the howitzer, burning furiously. Ignoring repeated warnings to seek cover, SGT Davis rammed a shell into the gun. Disregarding a withering hail of enemy fire directed against his position, he aimed and fired the howitzer, which rolled backward, knocking SGT Davis violently to the ground. Undaunted, he returned to the weapon to fire again when an enemy mortar round exploded within 20 meters of his position, injuring him painfully. Nevertheless, SGT Davis loaded the artillery piece, aimed, and fired. Again he was knocked down by the recoil. In complete disregard for his safety, SGT Davis loaded and fired three more shells into the enemy. Disregarding his extensive injuries and inability to swim, SGT Davis picked up an air mattress and struck out across the deep river to rescue three wounded comrades on the far side. Upon reaching the three wounded men, he stood upright and fired into the dense vegetation to prevent the Viet Cong from advancing. While the most seriously wounded soldier was helped across the river, SGT Davis protected the two remaining casualties until he could pull them across the river to the fire support base. Though suffering from painful wounds, he refused medical attention, joining another howitzer crew that fired at the large Viet Cong force until it broke contact and fled. SGT Davis' extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.}}
{{center|/S/ Lyndon B. Johnson}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last= Davis |first= Dixie |title= Endless Love and Second Chances: The wife of Medal of Honor recipient Sammy Davis shares their love story through grief, faith, and joyful new beginnings |publisher= Dixie Davis |location= Freedom, IN |date= 2016 |isbn= 978-0692589755 }}
- Davis, Sammy L. and Caroline Lambert (2016). You Don't Lose 'Til You Quit Trying: Lessons on Adversity and Victory from a Vietnam Veteran and Medal of Honor Recipient. New York, NY: Berkley Books. {{ISBN|978-0425283035}} {{OCLC|918284690}}
See also
{{Portal|Biography}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
|last = Wyatt
|first = Dennis
|title = War hero joining Hall of Fame
|newspaper = Manteca Bulletin
|location = Manteca, California
|date = April 1, 2010
|url = http://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/archive/12994/
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714030206/http://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/archive/12994/
|archive-date = July 14, 2011
|url-status = dead
}}
{{cite web |publisher=United States Army Center of Military History |title=Medal of Honor recipients – Vietnam (A-L) |date=August 3, 2009 |url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html |access-date=2009-09-12 |archive-date=2009-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627093600/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html |url-status=dead }}
|last = Reich
|first = Howard
|title = Medal of Honor recipients say you can be hero too
|newspaper = Chicago Tribune
|location = Chicago
|date = September 13, 2009
|url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-heroes_honorsep13,0,1934409.story
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090923015335/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-heroes_honorsep13,0,1934409.story
|archive-date = September 23, 2009
|url-status = dead
}}
}}
External links
{{Library resources box}}
{{commons category|Sammy L. Davis}}
- [http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/medal-honor/medal-honor-recipient-sammy-l-davis-interview/ Interview] at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Sammy L.}}
Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:United States Army soldiers
Category:Military personnel from Dayton, Ohio
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor