2 weeks Ago
To subscribe, click here To submit a letter to the editor, click here To pitch a ‘My Turn’ guest column, email [email protected] Sammy Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor on Nov. 19, 1968, by President Lyndon B.
Johnson. While on the telephone the other day, I experienced one of the great moments of my life. I have a job conducting background investigations for the FBI, and today I was interviewing a reference for a candidate who needed a security clearance so that he could have access to classified material.
One of the questions I am required to ask is, “How long have you known the individual, and how did you first come to know the individual?” This reference answered that he had known the candidate for about 20 years and he had met him at various events throughout the country. I asked, “What kind of events are you talking about?” He replied, “You know, speaking engagements.” I was getting a bit frustrated by his lack of specificity and told him so.
He sheepishly replied, “Well ...
I’m a, a Medal of Honor recipient and I travel around the country talking about it.” I was gob-smacked. I have always been fascinated by the Medal of Honor and have read nearly all the citations describing the heroics of the recipients and now I was actually speaking to one.
The criteria to receive the medal of honor is that a service member must perform an act of conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice that is above and beyond the call of duty. This act of bravery must also involve the risk of life while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States. Approximately 18 percent of all medals of honor are awarded posthumously.
The act must be confirmed by at least two eyewitnesses. Sgt. Sammy Davis was honored for his ‘conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life.
’ After the interview was finished, I looked up the name of the reference I had just interviewed. His name is Sammy Davis and this is what is written on his Medal of Honor citation: RANK: Private First Class (Highest rank: Sergeant First Class) CONFLICT/ERA : Vietnam War UNIT/COMMAND: Battery C, 2D Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S.
Army MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: November 18, 1967 MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: Firebase Cudgil, west of Cai Lay, Republic of Vietnam “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above 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. “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, which was 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 his 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 which fired at the large Viet Cong force until it broke contact and fled.
Sgt. Davis’s extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S.
Army.” I told Sammy that I was fortunate to eat breakfast each Friday morning with a number of Vietnam veterans and they will be awestruck that I had spoken to a real hero. Sammy responded that he was no hero, he was just a soldier.
To me, that would be like describing Superman as just a guy wearing a red cape..
