The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Conflict posts > Vietnam

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-02-2003, 09:32 PM
Arrow's Avatar
Arrow Arrow is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Indian Territory
Posts: 4,240
Distinctions
POM Contributor 
Default Sammy L Davis, Medal of Honor Vietnam

The Promise

by Sammy L Davis

Most of us here, on the day of our birth, automatically became heirs to the greatest of earthly treasures. A treasure envied by those who read of it, dream of it, and pray for it. It is a treasure never diminished by the numbers who share it. The guarantee of the opportunity to pursue happiness and the guarantee of freedom came to us as easily as we drew our first breath of air over American soil. And, in those first moments of life, we were gifted with ?The Promise?.


The Promise was conceived in the hearts of men burdened with unjust treatment and tyranny. The Promise was a dream they could not abandon. The Promise bore the weight of a solemn oath signed in blood. The promise was a pledge a man made to himself and whatever child or grandchild might share his bloodline. It was a promise that ?liberty and justice for all? would not be denied them. A promise that no man, clan, or country would slip under the wire and steal from them this gift.


The Promise, in the course of human history is still young, but does not need age to be strong. It?s strength lies in the precision of its description and the goodness of its intent as its story is told in the documents of its creed?The Constitution of the United States. The greatest hope of those men was that The Promise would insure

The possibility of that hope becoming a reality rests in the hands of all those who lay claim to it, be it through birthright or naturalization. Its strength and its fulfillment can be our reality only if we call to mind and instill in the minds of our young the boundless offerings of The Promise.


Only in a perfect world, where the spirit of man has no capacity for greed, for jealousy, or for hate, will it not be necessary to stand guard on a system of government based on a fair chance for every man and woman. The spirit of man is challenged by imperfections, so we will have to work on behalf of even the most righteous government yet devised by mortals to ensure its original potentiality is understood and does not fail to thrive.

Intruth, this country is much like the child it is meant to protect. Perfect at its birth, sound in spirit and strong?with boundless possibilities. I like to imagine that, as each new child comes to us, Miss Liberty bends over, kisses that precious head and tells the babe,


?Welcome little American. We have prepared a wonderful place for you. Many have worked, fought, and died to make it so?all for the love of you and others like you. Those who died for it sit at heaven?s gate and smile down on you today?happy for you and proud to know their blood helped secure this gift we offer you.


Before you lies a land of comfort. You will have access to information and education. You will have opportunities to achieve and realize dreams you have yet to dream. We want you to be safe and secure?healthy and happy. This flag I now wrap gently around your precious body is a symbol of honor?. And a symbol of faith. To you I give it as a symbol of ?The Promise.?

The Promise I make to you, that this country has been devised and works untiringly to give you a life where you are treated as fairly as any man or woman?where opportunities for all things lie before you and you are FREE to make your own choices. You have met this day the requirements for receiving these gifts.

YOU ARE AN AMERICAN!I do not have a plan for you. I have, instead, made it possible for you to build and follow YOUR OWN PLAN!


?That is ?The Promise?.?


Then I see Lady Liberty stand up straight, holding the babe swaddled in Old Glory lovingly in her hands?and?with arms stretched across the bay, she gently lays the infant on the shore. She smiles and, before she turns and again lifts her torch of freedom for all to see, she says softly:


"Be confident, I have made you this promise. Now, go forth and show the world what an American is made of!


We here today are a long way from the day we were gifted with ?The Promise.? We have lived long enough to know that it means and to understand its value. We here have seen that keeping ?The Promise? alive takes constant vigilance, diligent work, and even commands that the system and people working in it are persistently monitored?to keep it from straying from its just and fair design. We realize the problems inherent in keeping such a tremendous promise. We know nearly all good works take time and become complicated when we had hoped it would be simple.


I?m asking you to share. Sing the praises of our great country. Remind others how lucky ? truly how blessed they are to be Americans. It is okay to admit we have not perfected implementation of the course of action ensuring ?The Promise? will live on. But, it is imperative that we protect and preserve the country to keep the promise alive. We must let no enemy deny ?The Promise? to the people of America!


Remind others THAT is the TRUE BEAUTY of the American plan ? THE PEOPLE watch?and THE PEOPLE choose?and THE PEOPLE will either secure or fail ?The Promise?! We are not caught in a helpless situation.

Most people here in the United States have been so well protected ? our grandparents did their jobs so well ? most truly take their freedoms for granted?..or at least they did until September 11th

?The Promise? has been threatened and suddenly we are painfully aware that this life we love may not be here in the morning just because we expected it would be?.as surely as we expected water to come from the tap when we turn the handle and lights to come on when we flip a switch. Thirst and darkness can be dealt us from hateful acts of terror from a dark part of the world at any time. It has come to thousands of Americans already?in this first year of the new millennium.


The President stood atop a pile of rubble in New York and told the world we were on bended knee mourning the great loss of life and grieving with the families of the dead. I want the world to take notice?..as we rest a moment on bended knee and bow our heads in honor of those who died?..we clutch the Stars and Stripes to our hearts with our left hands, rededicated to ?The Promise?, and we raise our right fist high and defiant to tell the world




?WE WILL NOT LET THE PROMISE STOP WITH US!?


I leave you with a quote fron Abraham lincoln: We shall meanly lose or nobly save that last hope of the earth"










God Help us keep our Promise






__________________

Thomas Jefferson, Kentucky Resolutions of 1798: "In questions of power then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2  
Old 02-02-2003, 09:45 PM
Arrow's Avatar
Arrow Arrow is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Indian Territory
Posts: 4,240
Distinctions
POM Contributor 
Default

The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor to


DAVIS, SAMMY L


Rank and organization:


Sergeant, U.S. Army,


Battery C, 2d Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division.


Place and date: West of Cai Lay, Republic of Vietnam, 18 November 1967.


Entered service at: Indianapolis, Ind.


Born: 1 November 1946, Dayton, Ohio.



Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life 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 machinegun and provided covering fire for his guncrew, 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 guncrew 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 3 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 3 wounded comrades on the far side. Upon reaching the 3 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 2 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, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

__________________

Thomas Jefferson, Kentucky Resolutions of 1798: "In questions of power then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
New Destroyer Honors Vietnam War POW and Medal of Honor Recipient darrels joy General Posts 4 01-15-2006 05:31 PM
Medal Of Honor reeb General Posts 2 01-22-2004 10:50 AM
Marines honor Charles Davis for contributions to community thedrifter Marines 0 12-09-2003 04:57 AM
John Levitow: Medal of Honor in Vietnam Jerry D Vietnam 5 10-16-2003 03:37 PM
Bush Awards Medal of Honor to Vietnam War Hero thedrifter Vietnam 1 07-09-2002 04:01 AM

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:14 PM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.