Davis was one of the first Black officers in the Army's elite Green Berets. His nomination for the nation's highest combat decoration vanished twice at the height of the civil rights movement.
paris davis, one of the first black officers in the army s elite green berets. northeast of saigon near bong son. reporter: in 19625, davis was hit by a grenade and gun fire during a 19 hour battle in vietnam. among other acts of heroism, davis rescued his own wounded soldiers under heavy enemy fire. davis defied an order to evacuate as he told phil donahue in 1969. i told him, sir, i m not going to leave, i still have an american out there. reporter: davis is a canon officer billy cole immediately nominated him for the medal of honor. but then the records mysteriously vanished. the question is, what the devil went on, why did it take so long? reporter: cbs news sat down with davis, and his daughter, regan davis hopper. reagan, was race a factor? i suspect it might have been, and that is a shame. i m so proud ofs to finally set this right. reporter: that took the work of its diverse group of
Davis was one of the first Black officers in the Army's elite Green Berets. His nomination for the nation's highest combat decoration vanished twice at the height of the civil rights movement.
Davis was one of the first Black officers in the Army's elite Green Berets. His nomination for the nation's highest combat decoration vanished twice at the height of the civil rights movement.
President Biden awarded the Medal of Honor to retired black Army Col. Paris Davis for his heroic service during the Vietnam War - after paperwork recommending him was mysteriously lost.