Black Vietnam vet finally honored with Medal of Honor

Nearly 60 years after he was first recommended for the nation’s highest military award for his bravery during the Vietnam War, retired Col. Paris Davis, one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat, received the Medal of Honor on Friday.

President Joe Biden on Friday described Davis as a “true hero," describing his efforts to haul injured soldiers to safety under heavy enemy fire. Biden said Davis should have received the honor years ago, describing remaining segregation when he returned home and questioning why the honor took so long. Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism that stretched over nearly 19 hours and two days in mid-June 1965.