DAVIS, EUGENE R.
DAVIS, EUGENE R.
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne
Brigade,
Date of Action: July 7, 1965
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Eugene
R. Davis, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile
force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving as 3d Platoon Sergeant, Company
B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. On 7 July
1965, Company B was engaged in a search and destroy operation in an area
approximately fifteen miles northeast of Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. Moving
in a company wedge formation, the 3d platoon led the point. At about 1000 hours,
the forward element of the platoon encountered heavy hostile fire from an
automatic weapon and small arms which emanated from a concealed insurgent
position. In the initial burst, the 3d Platoon Leader and another platoon member
were killed. Due to the heavy concentration of fire that followed, the point
squad of the platoon was pinned down. Realizing the importance of locating and
destroying the insurgent position, Sergeant Davis, with complete disregard for
his own personal safety, exposed himself to the hostile fire and charged
forward, firing his weapon and lobbing grenades, in a desperate attempt to
pinpoint and destroy the hostile gun position. His weapon jammed and grenades
expended, Sergeant Davis was forced to halt the assault. Rearmed with a weapon
and more grenades, he charged twice again through the murderous hail of
insurgent fire, falling back only after expending his ammunition and grenades.
However, as a result of his efforts during the third assault, he was able to
pinpoint the exact location of the hostile machine gun. Notwithstanding the fact
that he was completely exhausted and dazed from a projectile which damaged his
helmet and web equipment, Sergeant Davis mustered fantastic courage and fanatic
determination and assisted by two others, assaulted the Viet Cong position for
the fourth time, inflicting heavy casualties and silencing the deadly automatic
weapon. His heroic actions and courage served to inspire the men of Company B to
gain the initiative and successfully complete their assigned mission. Sergeant
Davis' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the
highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon
himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
HQ US Army, Pacific, General Orders No. 302 (October 15, 1965)
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