Biden awards Medal of Honor to Black Vietnam War hero after paperwork 'lost' twice

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News

President Joe Biden on Friday awarded the Medal of Honor to a Black Army Special Forces hero from the Vietnam War who has waited close to 60 years to receive the nation's top award for valor after the Army said the paperwork couldn't be found.

Then a 26-year-old captain, Paris Davis, now 83, led a company tearing through a larger enemy force, pushing the attack despite being shot, absorbing shrapnel and another bullet to get wounded comrades to safety, refusing to join them on the evacuation helicopter, choosing rather to stay and continue destroying the remaining adversaries.


PHOTO: President Joe Biden stands with Vietnam War veteran, Retired US Army Colonel Paris Davis, before awarding him the Medal of Honor, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 3, 2023.
ABC News

At a White House ceremony, Biden called Davis "an incredible man." Picking up the story, Biden continued, "And although the men who were with him on that June day immediately nominated Captain Davis to receive 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 that he would finally receive the Medal of Honor? Quote, 'America was behind me.'"

A colonel by the time he retired from the Army, Davis' first name "Paris" is inspired by the mythological figure featured in Homer's epic war poem "The Iliad."

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-award-medal-honor-vietnam-hero-after-60/story?id=97586022

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Heard about this on the radio this morning. Delayed but not denied. CONGRATS to him and thank you President Biden.

[orleans]

1. i'm glad this man lived long enuf to get this medal.

army lost the paperwork? (such crap! then start new paperwork!)
shame on the army for fucking this up for 57 years!

[ancianita]

4. It's probably this commander-in-chief who will make sure to fix this paperwork crap.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. The army lost BOTH original paperwork submissions

Surprise surprise surprise.

And agree, considering that the average life expectancy of black men often means that many don't even make it long enough to even collect SS, that he thankfully got through 2 wars and a pandemic to live long enough to finally be honored.

[Baltimike]

8. There was a fire in Kansas (?) and a lot of army records were destroyed

My father was a Chief Warrant Officer 4th class, but it was one of his fellows who told me about it. The Army readily admits many records were lost in the fire, mostly Viet Nam vets.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Yeah I had heard about that (a NPRC warehouse - I think in St. Louis)

but this paperwork shouldn't have been something needing to be trapped there rather than be processed as approved or not approved for a personnel action (it would have been the equivalent of OPM's records for me as a retired fed).

My dad was in WW2 and and a grandfather in WW1 and I was wondering if any of their military stuff had been lost in that fire there although I have an old old Xerox of my dad's WW2 discharge papers and an electronic copy of my grandfather's, a great-grandfather's (and several great-uncles') WW1 draft cards from ~1917.

[Bluejeans]

14. Go here for Vet Records

Look here:

https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

and you might want to read here on whether your relatives' records might have been destroyed in the 1973 fire and what records may be available as substitutes.

https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973

[BumRushDaShow]

18. Am a retired fed so I know I can go diving down the rabbit hole of that

From what I read, a lot of stuff that was destroyed were the older records. The oldest relative who had a WW1 draft card was literally right at the max age (41) in 1917 and I don't think he was called up. And a few of the other older ones were at that max age for WW2 but I think one did serve in Europe.

Some of that stuff was stored on microfiche (I think that is probably what my dad's discharge papers were on when a copy was made). He had also worked at the VA for 20 years (when it was a stand alone agency and not a department) before he died in 1974.

[3auld6phart]

6. Curious

I am curious as to how many AA or others that are not WASPs have received the M OH.
I also am happy to see he got the Medal while still with us. Thank you President Biden.

[Renew Deal]

12. It's amazing that Vietnam vets are now in their 80's.

[soldierant]

26. Well, that's how the math works.

I never served in combat, or even in Nam, as women didn't when I was in But i served during that war and am now 77 - just a kid, I guess.

[republianmushroom]

2. like it

about time
Twice ???

[NNadir]

3. Hear me out. If President Biden is not overwhelmingly reelected...

...in a landslide, this country will not be worthy of its history.

[speak easy]

7. This country is worthy of its history.

A history and a White House built on the backs of black slaves, discounted and denied to this day. Washington was elected president but America still had a King - king cotton.

[LoisB]

10. Amen.

[Joinfortmill]

16. Yes, Joe is just the best damn guy. Talk about always exceeding expectations.

[LoisB]

9. Well, I guess it's good the army didn't wait until he was dead to "find" the paperwork.

[Joinfortmill]

13. Two amazing guys.

[Bluejeans]

15. Tougher than woodpecker lips!

Colonel Davis was--and is--tougher than woodpecker lips!

[FakeNoose]

17. A true hero is finally getting his due

[bluboid]

19. wow! congratulations to Paris Davis -

& thank you, Joe Biden, for bringing RECOGNITION to Mr Davis!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

20. Paris Davis has a Wikipedia page. Complete with photo of him in the 60's

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Davis

[BumRushDaShow]

21. Thanks for that link!

[AllaN01Bear]

22. good . lost ? my eye.

[chowder66]

23. Oooo this gave me happy chills! I'm so glad he was finally awarded this.

[BOSSHOG]

24. LOST TWICE??

Approved for the Congressional Medal of Honor in the 60s. Lost twice? I guess the courts martial paperwork for dereliction of duty for “losing” said documents was lost too. That’s a fucking crime.

Congrats Colonel. A Hero and a humble citizen. Good thing for your men you were woke.

[Cha]

25. TY & Pres Biden And..

Retired US Army Colonel Paris Davis!

[KS Toronado]

27. First one up his chain of command or their clerk

who didn't like him or was a racist threw the paperwork in the trash, that's what happens IMHO. Surprised he
wasn't wearing his Purple Heart, he had his Purple Heart ribbon on.

[Seinan Sensei]

29. Davis served a country that in many places refused to serve people who look like him

"Paris endured all of this and volunteered … to serve a country that in many places still refused to serve people who look like him,” said Pres. Biden

This Medal of Honor ceremony would NOT have been allowed in some states.

Not if they had to acknowledge that racism existed. And exists.
Too woke.
Too "CRT."

[KS Toronado]

31. Thought all Medal of Honor ceremonies

in this Country take place at the White House.

[Kid Berwyn]

28. "America was behind me."

Thank you, Col. Davis.

[Wonder Why]

30. Paperwork can be found in Mar-a-Lago where all confifential documents go.

[GP6971]

33. Welcome to DU

I guess

[GP6971]

35. Yes he does.

And it's not a sensitive issue with me.