It was a great privilege to present Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L. Davis a commemorative plaque at the Mooresville200 Sammy L. Davis dedication event. What an honor it was to attend and recognize Sammy L. Davis. Thank you to the Mooresville200 team and the Town of Mooresville for organizing such a remarkable celebration. Sammy is a Mooresville High School ’66 alumnus and Medal of Honor recipient. At the event, the Town of Mooresville read a proclamation declaring February 21st as Sammy L. Davis Day. The Town also dedicated and renamed a section of Monroe Street to Sammy L. Davis Medal of Honor Way.
Banning Engineering’s transportation team worked on the road reconstruction of Mooresville’s Monroe Street. Logan Vieck (GIS Mapping Technician) made the personal plaque for Sammy and Dixie Davis. Mark Butler (VP of GIS and Transportation Services), the Monroe Street project manager, and Mary Banning (Business Development Manager) presented the plaque to Sammy and Dixie. Interested in learning more? Read Sammy’s incredible Medal of Honor story below, taken from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s website. Be sure to check out all the Mooresville200 happenings on their website as well. A big thank you to those who organized the event, allowed us to participate, and shared photos with us.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Davis (then Pfc.) 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 fire support base was under heavy enemy mortar attack. Simultaneously, an estimated reinforced Viet Cong battalion launched a fierce ground assault upon the fire support base. The attacking enemy drove to within 25 meters of the friendly positions. Only a river separated the Viet Cong from the fire support base. Detecting a nearby enemy position, Sgt. Davis seized a machine gun and provided covering fire for his gun crew, as they attempted to bring direct artillery fire on the enemy. Despite his efforts, an enemy recoilless-rifle round scored a direct hit upon the artillery piece. The resultant blast hurled the gun crew from their weapon and blew Sgt. Davis into a foxhole. He struggled to his feet and returned to the howitzer, which was burning furiously. Ignoring repeated warnings to seek cover, Sgt. Davis rammed a shell into the gun. Disregarding a withering hail of enemy fire directed against his position, he aimed and fired the howitzer which rolled backward, knocking Sgt. Davis violently to the ground. Undaunted, he returned to the weapon to fire again when an enemy mortar round exploded within 20 meters of his position, injuring him painfully. Nevertheless, Sgt. Davis loaded the artillery piece, aimed, and fired. Again he was knocked down by the recoil. In complete disregard for his safety, Sgt. Davis loaded and fired three more shells into the enemy. Disregarding his extensive injuries and his inability to swim, Sgt. Davis picked up an air mattress and struck out across the deep river to rescue three wounded comrades on the far side. Upon reaching the three wounded men, he stood upright and fired into the dense vegetation to prevent the Viet Cong from advancing. While the most seriously wounded soldier was helped across the river, Sgt. Davis protected the two remaining casualties until he could pull them across the river to the fire support base. Though suffering from painful wounds, he refused medical attention, joining another howitzer crew which fired at the large Viet Cong force until it broke contact and fled. Sgt. Davis’ extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
