Foreign I'm Elaine quijano and I'm Errol Barnett we are showing you now live pictures coming to us from the White House where President Biden is presenting the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam veteran Paris Davis was an officer in the Army's Elite Green Beret many say this award is long overdue let's watch.
And uh we have five here but uh this uh secretary may be the most consequential day since I've been president he's an incredible man I uh 158 years ago today the white in this White House President Lincoln was putting the final touches on his second inaugural address and he wrote let us strive to finish the.
Work we're in to bind up the nation's wounds and care for him who shall have borne the battle today 58 years after he bore the battle we honor a true hero of our nation Colonel Paris Davis I've had a chance to get to talk to him a little bit we talked on the phone and.
He doesn't know if we're going to talk a lot more incredible guy the Medal of Honor created during Lincoln's presidency is our country's highest Military Award recognizing gallantry above and beyond the Call of Duty that word gallantry it's not much used these days gallantry.
But I can think of no better word to describe Paris to describe you I really can't gallantry and everyone here feels exactly the same way that includes secretary Austin and secretary McDonough and Secretary of the Army warmouth and the vice chairman Grady and general mcconville.
Representative buyer where's representative buyer thank you thank you for pushing this a little bit appreciate it for joining us today now as many of you know Paris will be the first to tell you that he hates the word I that it was his team who served and this team who sacrificed so today I'm truly.
Honored to welcome one of those teammates Ron deese dice where's Ron Ron he was the Airborne spotter for that team and uh it's only a few days ago right foreign recipients are here who join us to recognize their brother-in-arms Leroy.
Petrie William Swenson Melvin Morris Matthew Williams and Earl Plumley stand up you're looking at courage in the flesh and finally uh Greg and Stephanie Paris you already know this but uh your dad was a hero but he didn't have to win this medal for you to know that.
You knew it all along you really did didn't you when you were kids you knew growing up and you know and like you I wish your brother Christopher still with us to see your dad's final rep finally recognize his story you know it's a story that didn't just begin in the Vietnamese the Vietnamese Village 58 years ago.
Instead picture Paris in 1956 the son of a Midwestern Foundry worker starting his first year at Southern University in the heart of Louisiana a college football team quickly noticed that Paris had the grit and the guts that needed on the team so before long the Paris not only joined the team but he's named All-American before us.
He's a very slow learner this guy I tell you what but off the field Paris saw a constantly reminders of too many to many he was less than an American and that in the eyes of the law he was less than a person signs on bars that read whites only seats on buses where we're off limits for African Americans.
School Street shops divided by segregation Paris endured all of this and still chose to join his college ROTC unit volunteering to serve a country that in many places still refused to serve people who look like him right away it was clear the Paris was a born Warrior.
He became an Army Ranger then he jumped at the chance to join the Green Berets becoming one of the nation's first black Special Forces officers Paris linked to like the green Belize because they were Elite it wasn't just as Paris once said Joe here Joe there but it didn't offend me.
You said Joe here that that didn't bother me but but the Green Berets like our country then weren't free from discrimination either people pull Pirates aside to warn them are you sure you want to join there aren't a lot of people like you look like you in this outfit well remember.
This was only 14 years after President Truman desegregated our military only 14 years later but Parish didn't listen to them and thank God he didn't prayers helped write the history of our nation and this year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our first fully integrated armed forces and named Paris Davis will still stand.
Alongside the nation's pioneering Heroes you know in the early hours of June 18 1965. and his captain then Captain Davis and his team with three of the Green Berets were wrapping up a job well done and together they just finished a 10 mile March through the night to support a company of South Vietnamese soldiers.
On their first combat Mission a raid against the Viet Cong thick in the jungle of bong song The Raid was a success but as the sun began to rise the men heard that haunting sound ring out a bugle a bugle a sure sign of a counter-attack within minutes.
The jungle lit up with enemy fire hundreds of Vietcong began to swarm Captain Davis and his team pinning him down in a rice paddy with no cover Captain Davis rallied his team to fight back getting so close to the enemy he was battling them hand to hand hours this is the part that son's name.
Hours into that fight Captain heard suddenly heard a sound worse than the bugle his teammate crying out for help his team sergeant had been shot badly in his foot in his leg trapping him in the middle of the paddy and it got worse on the far side of the field.
His Weapon Specialist was stuck in a Cess pit after being temporarily knocked out by shrapnel you know and even further Beyond him was his medic who had been shot in the head Captain Davis realized he was the last American standing without hesitation he yelled I'm coming for you.
I'm coming for you he called in Friendly Fire and gave a little bit of cover to run out and rescue his team on his first attempt to get to team sergeant Captain Davis was shot in the arm and had to turn back Captain Davis waited for another window.
And sprinted back out again but his team Sergeant was stuck Captain Davis couldn't fully break him free before here to return that had returned to cover he didn't give up though that's not the Green Beret way for his third time as enemy fire rained down him he ran out cab Davis freed his.
Team Sergeant threw him over his shoulder and started carrying up the hill to safety Captain Davis got about halfway up the hill before a bullet pierced his leg then in front of him another Green Beret Sergeant who had just arrived to the battle to reinforce the team was shot in the chest and now needed to be rescued.
As well Captain Davis limped up the hill with his team Sergeant on his shoulder he'd been fighting for around 10 hours but Captain Davis didn't hesitate he went back down the hill to retrieve the reinforcement who had been just shot in the chest all 240 pounds of him next Captain Davis ran to his weapons.
Specialist who was struck in that cesspit Vietcong Fighters continue to spray gunfire across the field as Captain Davis threw his teammate a rope pulled him out and began to haul him up the hill as well but this time the rescue helicopter by this time the rescue helicopter landed.
Captain Davis Commander gave him a direct order get on board David's response was just as direct sorry said I'm just not going to leave I still have an American out there unsure if he was still alive Captain Davis began to plan how he would get his medic just the day before the Medicaid found.
Out he was the good news he was a new father his wife had given birth to the first child Captain Davis was going to give him a chance to see his baby boy he pinpointed the medic's position and began crawling toward him with gunfire and grenades still exploding around him.
When he got there the medic's still alive asked him am I going to die am I going to die Captain not before me still fending off the Vietnam assailants Captain Davis hauled his medic up the hill and nearly 20 hours nearly 20 hours.
Later after that bugle first rang Captain Davis had saved each one of his fellow Americans every single one just as the story of Paris Davis did not begin in June 18 1965. it does not end there either Captain Davis went on to become Colonel Davis serving more than 25 years in our.
Military and earning a PhD on top of that he received a civil star the Bronze Star the air medal the Purple Heart and even after he hung up his uniform Captain continued to serve the community founding the Metro Herald a newspaper that focused on his local community and civil rights issues.
I wish I could say to this story of paris's sacrifice on that day in 1965 was fully recognized and rewarded immediately but sadly we know who they weren't at the time Captain Davis returned from war the country was still battling segregation.
Returned from Vietnam Vietnam to experience some of his fellow soldiers crossing the other side of the street when they saw him in America and although the men who were with him in dead June day immediately nominated Captain Davis received the Medal of Honor somehow the paper the paperwork was never processed.
Not just once but twice but you know what Captain Davis said after learning he would finally receive the medal honor quote America was behind me America was behind me he never lost faith which I find astounding he never stopped believing in the.
Founding vision of our nation Vision that Lincoln kept alive 158 years ago and a vision Paris fought to defend 58 years ago this vision for a more perfect union when we're all women and men are created equal you know we're the most unique nation in.
The world we're the only nation founded on an idea every other nation's founded based on a philosophy based on ethnicity religion whatever an idea is captured and we hold these truths to be self-evident and all men and women are created equal endowed by their credit with certain.
Inalienable rights life liberty we've never fully lived up to it but we've never walked away from it this is evidence we're still not going to walk away from it look folks we never ever walked away from our troops who dare all and give all to our nation.
Paris you are everything this medal means I mean everything this medal means and look you're everything Our Generation aspired to be you're everything our nation is at our best Brave and big-hearted determined and devoted.
Selfless and steadfast American American and now at long last it's my great honor to ask Lieutenant Colonel Roe to read the citation thank you foreign the president of the United States of America authorized by act of Congress.
March 3rd 1863 has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Captain Paris D Davis United States Army for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the Call of Duty Captain Paris D Davis Commander Detachment a321 fifth Special Forces Group Airborne first Special Forces.
Distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an advisor to the 883rd regional Force company Army of the Republic of Vietnam during combat operations against an armed enemy in the vicinity of bongsong Republic of Vietnam on June 17th through 18th 1965.
Captain Davis and three other U.S Special Forces advisors accompanied the Vietnamese 883rd Regional Force company on its first combat Mission a daring nighttime raid against a Viet Cong Regional headquarters housing a superior enemy Force Captain Davis advice and Leadership allowed the company to gain the Tactical.
Advantage allowing it to surprise the unsuspecting enemy force and kill approximately 100 enemy soldiers while returning from the successful raid the regional Force company was ambushed and sustained several casualties Captain Davis consistently exposed himself to the Hostile armed Small Arms fire to Rally the inexperienced and disorganized.
Company he expertly directed both artillery and Small Arms fire enabling other elements of the company to reach his position although wounded in the leg he aided in the evacuation of other wounded men in his unit but refused medical evacuation himself following the arrival of air support.
Captain Davis directed artillery fire within 30 meters of his own position in an attempt to Halt the enemy's Advance then with complete disregard for his own life he braved intense enemy fire to cross an open field to rescue his seriously wounded and immobilized team Sergeant while carrying the sergeant up a hill to a position of relative safety.
Captain Davis was again wounded by enemy fire despite two painful wounds Captain Davis again refused medical evacuation remained with the troops fought bravely and provided pivotal leadership and inspiration to the regional Force company as it repelled several Vietcong assaults on their position over a period.
Of several hours when friendly reinforcements finally arrived Captain Davis again refused medical evacuation until he had recovered and air U.S adviser under his command who had been wounded during the initial Ambush and presumed dead while personally recovering the wounded soldier he found him severely wounded.
But still clinging to life Captain Davis directed the helicopter extraction of his wounded colleague not leaving the battlefield himself until after all friendly forces were recovered or medically evacuated Captain Davis heroism and selflessness above and beyond the Call of Duty at the risk of his own life are in keeping with the.
Highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself his unit and the United States Army thank you foreign
This is an outrage, but for the honoree, he correctly deserves his time in the highlight. By no fault of the soldier’s we now glean got a president who’s a nugatory coward hiding at the lend a hand of a criminal enterprise, aka: govt. The president would no more stand a put up than some alley cat. I’m sorry to smash the MOH recipient’s day. God bless you my soldier, buddy. No disrespect to you, nor to your suited outfit, not to claim folks who died around you. I know you had been so very brave.
This man is actually the epitome of what it methodology to be an American. He represents the most efficient of the most efficient. Thank you sir for your carrier and sacrifice to this country.
Sorry you needed to procure this from Biden. I apologize on Behalf of real People