Medal of Honor: Sammy L. Davis – Vietnam War – November 18, 1967

Name: Sammy Lee Davis
Rank: Sergeant (then Private First Class)
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division
Place and Date: West of Cai Lay, Republic of Vietnam – November 18, 1967
Entered Service At: Indianapolis, Indiana
Born: November 1, 1946 – Dayton, Ohio
Departed: Survived (Medal of Honor recipient)
Accredited to: Indiana

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Summary of Action

In the early morning hours of November 18, 1967, a remote fire support base west of Cai Lay came under heavy enemy mortar fire. Within moments, an estimated reinforced Viet Cong battalion launched a full assault, driving to within 25 meters of the American guns. Only a river separated the enemy from overrunning the position.

Seeing his howitzer crew struggling to bring direct fire on the attackers, Pfc. Sammy L. Davis seized a machine gun and provided covering fire until an enemy recoilless rifle round scored a direct hit on the artillery piece. The blast hurled the crew from the weapon and blew Davis into a foxhole. Bruised, dazed, and under intense fire, he climbed back to his feet and returned to the burning howitzer.

Ignoring repeated orders to take cover, he rammed a round into the flaming tube, aimed, and fired — the recoil throwing him violently backward. He crawled back to the gun again. A mortar blast wounded him painfully, but Davis refused to quit. He loaded, aimed, and fired again. And again. And again. Five direct-fire rounds — each delivered alone, under fire, against an enemy force ten times their number.

Hearing wounded comrades calling from across the river, Davis — who could not swim — grabbed an air mattress, slid into the deep water, and paddled through machine-gun fire to reach them. Standing above the wounded, he fired into the jungle to hold back the advancing Viet Cong. As the most seriously injured man was moved first, Davis protected the remaining two until he could drag them, one at a time, across the river to safety.

Bleeding and exhausted, he refused medical treatment, joining another gun crew and firing until the enemy broke contact and retreated into the night.

Pfc. Sammy L. Davis’ actions that night — fearless, relentless, and utterly selfless — remain among the most astounding acts of individual bravery in the Vietnam War.

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Medal of Honor Citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Private First Class), U.S. Army, Battery C, 2d Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division.

Entered service at: Indianapolis, Ind.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Davis 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 base came under heavy enemy mortar attack, followed by a fierce ground assault by an estimated reinforced Viet Cong battalion. Detecting a nearby enemy position, Sgt. Davis seized a machine gun and provided covering fire for his guncrew until an enemy recoilless rifle round scored a direct hit upon the artillery piece, blowing him into a foxhole.

Despite injuries and repeated warnings to seek cover, he returned to the burning howitzer, loaded and fired multiple rounds directly into the enemy. Injured again by a mortar blast, he continued to fire the gun alone, repeatedly knocked down by recoil yet refusing to yield.

Hearing wounded comrades across the river, Sgt. Davis — unable to swim — used an air mattress to cross through enemy fire. He protected the wounded with covering fire, then brought them across the deep river to safety. Rejecting medical aid, he rejoined another howitzer crew and continued fighting until the enemy broke contact and fled.

Sgt. Davis’ extraordinary heroism and complete disregard for his own safety are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.