[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING SERGEANT FIRST CLASS SAMMY L. DAVIS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM BANKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2018

  Mr. BANKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant 
First Class Sammy L. Davis and congratulate him on receiving the Sachem 
Award. The Sachem Award, our state's highest honor, is given annually 
to a Hoosier with a lifetime of excellence and moral virtue that has 
brought credit and honor to the state of Indiana.
  Sergeant First Class Davis has certainly met the criteria for this 
prestigious award. As a cannoneer with the 4th Artillery Regiment of 
the 9th Infantry Division, Sammy was stationed in South Vietnam in 
1967. One day, his unit fell under heavy machine gun and mortar fire 
from the Vietcong. Without hesitation, Sammy manned a howitzer to 
provide cover for his unit. The howitzer caught fire and Sammy was 
blown into a foxhole after being struck by an enemy rifle round. 
Sergeant Davis courageously returned to the burning artillery piece to 
continue returning fire on the enemy. Although he sustained serious 
injuries from an enemy mortar round, Sammy picked up an air mattress 
and crossed a nearby river to rescue his wounded comrades.
  For his actions, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded Sammy the 
Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism at the risk of 
his life in 1968. Additionally, Sergeant First Class Davis was awarded 
the Silver Star, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam 
Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and Republic of 
Vietnam Campaign Medal for his actions.
  I would like to congratulate Sammy and his wife, Dixie, on receiving 
this important award. Hoosiers are proud of the accomplishments of 
Sergeant First Class Sammy L. Davis and thank him for his service to 
our nation.

                          ____________________