[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATIONS TO MY GOOD FRIEND SAMMY DAVIS, AN AMERICAN HERO

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                           HON. GLENN POSHARD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 1997

  Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge my good friend, 
Sammy Davis, an American hero and a proud citizen of Robinson, IL.
  On May 9, 1997, a new Federal building in St. Louis will be named 
after Sammy Davis. Let me tell you about this brave man. He is a local 
Congressional Medal of Honor winner. He was awarded this prestigious 
award after fighting off a Viet Cong attack and rescuing three wounded 
men west of Cai Lay, in South Vietnam on November 18, 1967. Sammy, a 
private first class in the Army, served as a cannoneer with Battery C, 
Second Battalion. Fourth Artillery, Ninth Infantry Division at a remote 
fire support base. Around 2 a.m., the base was under heavy attack by 
the Viet Cong. Sammy, just newly turned 21, provided cover for a gun 
crew trying to direct artillery fire on the enemy. But their howitzer 
was directly hit, throwing him into a foxhole. Rather than heeding 
warnings to take cover Sammy bravely ran back to the howitzer, which 
was on fire, loaded and fired it. The recoil knocked him off his feet, 
but he valiantly climbed back on under heavy fire. He was injured when 
a motor round exploded just a few yards away, however, he again loaded 
the howitzer and fired four more times.
  Even though Sammy was injured and unable to swim, he used an air 
mattress and a machine gun to rescue three wounded soldiers on the 
opposite bank and fired his gun into the dense vegetation to prevent 
the Viet Cong from advancing. During this intense battle Sammy kept 
firing away and protected the two soldiers remaining. Because of his 
courageous effort there were only casualties, no deaths. Sammy refused 
to be medically treated and jumped on another howitzer, continued 
firing, breaking off the Viet Cong attack, enabling him to escape with 
his life.
  Not long after this battle Sammy was medically discharged and 
returned to the Indianapolis-Mooresville, IN area, where some of his 
family resided. While Sammy was in Vietnam his family moved to 
Robinson, IL. He then met his wife, Peggy Martin, and they have raised 
three children, two sons, Beau and Blue, who attend Lincoln Trail 
College and Vincennes University, and a daughter, Nicole Newkirk. Sammy 
is also blessed with a 21-month-old granddaughter, Stevie Raye, who is 
very much the ``light'' of his life.
  Mr. Chairman, the Medal of Honor is the highest award given for the 
heroic deeds Sammy dared to accomplish in his youth, and it is a great 
pleasure for me to celebrate the dedication of the Federal building to 
Sammy Davis for his outstanding service to the U.S. Army. It is due to 
people like Sammy, who put their lives on the line to save others, that 
have truly made the United States the symbol of freedom worldwide. I am 
sure Sammy does not see himself as a hero and felt he was just doing 
his duty, but he is a hero in my eyes, and in the eyes of his family 
and the community of Robinson, IL.

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