Paris Davis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paris Davis
Davis in 2023
Born	(1939-05-13) 13 May 1939 (age 86) Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1959–1985 (26 years)
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	10th Special Forces Group
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Medal (2) with "V" device Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (2) with "V" device Army Commendation Medal (4) with "V" device
Other work	Newspaper publisher

Paris D. Davis was born on May 13, 1939. He is a retired officer from the United States Army. On March 3, 2023, he received the Medal of Honor. This award was given for his brave actions on June 18, 1965, during the Vietnam War. At that time, he was a captain with the 5th Special Forces Group.

Colonel Davis was first given the Silver Star for his bravery. He was nominated for the Medal of Honor two times before, but the important papers for his award went missing both times. It took 58 years from his first nomination until he finally received the Medal of Honor. After his heroic actions, Davis later led the 10th Special Forces Group. He retired from the Army in 1985 as a full colonel, after serving for 26 years. For 30 more years, he published a newspaper called the Metro Herald. He now lives in Arlington County, Virginia.

Early Life and Education

Paris Davis studied political science at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended college with a scholarship from the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. This program helps train future military officers.

Military Career Highlights

Davis became an officer in the United States Army Reserve on June 1, 1959. He earned special qualifications in 1960, becoming a parachutist and a Ranger. In 1962, he also became qualified for the Special Forces. Early in his career, he served in places like South Korea, South Vietnam (from 1962 to 1963), and Okinawa, Japan.

Captain Paris Davis in the 1960s

In April 1965, Davis returned to South Vietnam for his second tour. He took command of Team A-321 of the 5th Special Forces Group. This team was stationed at Camp Bồng Sơn in Bình Định Province.

Heroic Actions in Vietnam

On June 18, 1965, Captain Davis and three other Special Forces team members led a company of Vietnamese soldiers. They attacked a Viet Cong base. Here is what Davis himself wrote about that day:

"We had just finished a successful raid. We had killed many of the enemy. The raid started after midnight. Four Americans and the 883rd Vietnamese Regional Force Company were part of it. After the raid, one group of Vietnamese soldiers started to run. This happened just as I signaled to pull back our guards by the river.

I went after the first group of soldiers. MSG Billy Waugh was with the second group. SSG David Morgan was with the third, and SP-1 Brown was with the fourth. It was just getting light when I caught up to the first group. I got them organized, and then we were hit by machine gun fire. The main part of the group was hit. I was wounded in the hand by a grenade piece.

As I moved the group back, I heard more firing. I saw a wounded Vietnamese soldier running. He told me the rest of our company was under attack. I moved my group back to the main company. When I reached them, the enemy had them trapped in an open field. They were using machine guns and mortars.

I immediately told my group to fire back, but only a few did. I started firing at the enemy. I moved along the line, telling the 883rd Company to fight back. Then, we started getting fire from our right side. I ran there and found five Viet Cong coming over a trench. I killed all five. Then I heard firing from our left side. I ran there and saw about six Viet Cong moving toward us. I threw a grenade and killed four of them. My M16 rifle jammed. So, I shot one with my pistol and hit the other with my M16 until he was dead.

MSG Waugh started yelling that he had been shot in the foot. I ran into the open field to get him. But the enemy's automatic fire was too strong, and I had to go back to safety. By this time, SSG Morgan, who was at the edge of the field, woke up. He had been knocked out by an enemy mortar. He told me he was being shot at by a sniper. I found the sniper and shot him in his hidden spot. I crawled over and dropped a grenade in the hole, killing two more Viet Cong.

At this point, I was able to contact Captain Bronson and Sergeant Ronald Dies. Captain Bronson called in fighter jets. They dropped bombs on the enemy's position. I ran out and pulled SSG Morgan to safety. He was slightly wounded, and I helped him with his shock.

The enemy tried to attack us again. I picked up a machine gun and started firing. I saw four or five enemies fall, and the rest ran away. Then I set up a 60mm mortar. I fired about five or six mortars. I ran out again to try and get MSG Waugh. SSG Morgan had partly recovered and was firing his machine gun at the enemy. I ran out and tried to pick up MSG Waugh, who had now been wounded four times in his right foot. I couldn't pick him up. I was shot slightly in the back of my leg as I ran for cover.

By this time, Captain Bronson had called in F-4 jets. They started dropping bombs on the enemy. I ran out again. This time I was shot in the wrist. But I was able to pick up MSG Waugh. I carried him in a 'fireman's carry' through heavy enemy fire to safety. I called for a medical helicopter for MSG Waugh. When the helicopter came, I carried MSG Waugh about 200 yards up a hill. As I put him on the helicopter, SFC Reinburg got off and ran down to where the 883rd Company was. He was shot through the chest almost right away. I ran to him and gave him first aid. With SSG Morgan's help, I pulled him to safety.

The enemy tried to attack us again. I picked up the closest weapon and started to fire. I was also throwing grenades. I killed about six or seven enemies. Then I was ordered to take the troops I had and leave. I told the Colonel in the command helicopter that I had one wounded American and one American whose condition I didn't know. I told the Colonel I would not leave until all Americans were out. SFC Reinburg was taken out by helicopter. The fighting continued until mid-afternoon. We couldn't get the company we had to fight. The enemy tried to attack us two more times. Finally, we got more soldiers to help. With their help, I was able to go out and get SP-1 Brown. He had been lying in the middle of the field for about fourteen hours, from the start of the battle until it ended."

For his actions that day, Davis received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

The Bồng Sơn area remained a strong enemy base. U.S., Vietnamese, and South Korean forces later launched a large operation there in early 1966. Davis served a third time in Vietnam in 1969. He later commanded the 10th Special Forces Group. He retired from the Army as a colonel in 1985.

Medal of Honor Journey

President Joe Biden presents retired Army Col. Paris D. Davis with the Medal of Honor

Colonel Davis was first nominated for the Medal of Honor in 1965. However, the Army lost the paperwork. In 1969, an investigation was ordered, but no record of the first nomination was found. The nomination was sent in again, but it was lost a second time. Some people believe that racism might have played a part in the papers going missing, as Davis is African-American.

In January 2021, the acting Secretary of Defense, Christopher C. Miller, ordered a quick review of the lost nomination. He wanted it finished by March 2021. In June 2021, Miller wrote that the military system was still delaying the review. He urged President Joe Biden to award Davis the Medal of Honor. In November 2022, it was reported that the nomination had been approved by General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was then waiting for approval from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. On February 14, 2023, it was finally confirmed that Davis would receive the Medal of Honor.

On March 3, 2023, Colonel Davis finally received the Medal of Honor. This was 58 years after he was first nominated. His third nomination had direct support from two different Secretaries of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the President of the United States. President Joe Biden personally presented the Medal of Honor to Davis in a special ceremony at the White House.

Life After the Military

After retiring from the Army, Paris Davis published the Metro Herald newspaper in Virginia for 30 years. He is now fully retired and lives in Arlington County, Virginia.

In 2019, Davis was honored by being added to the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. On September 13, 2024, Colonel Davis was a special guest at an event for the Military Intelligence Corps Association (MICA) in Virginia. He received The Knowlton Award, which honors people who show great professionalism, bravery, and dedication to their country.

On June 14, 2025, Davis and five other Medal of Honor recipients took part in events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and Flag Day. On June 17, 2025, a book about Davis's life was published. It is called "Every Weapon I Had: A Vietnam Vet's Long Road to the Medal of Honor." The book covers his early life, joining the Army, becoming a Special Forces soldier, his time in Vietnam, and his experiences after the war, leading up to receiving the Medal of Honor in 2023.

Awards and Honors

Colonel Davis has received many awards for his service:

Special Forces Distinctive Unit Insignia
8 Overseas Service Bars

See Also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War