'Real-life Forrest Gump' remembers war

U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and Hoosier Sgt. Sammy L. Davis swung through Bloomington during the 10th Annual "Picnic with the POPS" Orchestra and Chorus Saturday evening, a Fourth of July celebration to honor America's independence and to memorialize the continued American struggle for freedom, liberty and justice for all.\n"No matter what you're faced with -- problems, studies at school, mom and dad -- you don't lose until you quit trying," Davis said off-stage before he addressed about 3,000 community members picnicking in a sea of red, white and blue. "On the Fourth of July think of the soldiers that earned it because freedom is not free. If we forget those who gave us that freedom we will truly deserve what we get."\nAlso known as the "real-life Forrest Gump" and a Private First Class during the Vietnam War, Davis distinguished himself for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty," and he was presented the medal Nov. 18, 1967, according to his award citation presented in the "Picnic with the POPS" program. About 40 million Americans have served their country in times of conflict and war, although only about 3,500 -- or less than one-ten thousandth of a percent -- have served with "such uncommon valor and extraordinary courage" to earn the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. \n"Enjoy life because that is what life is for, but always remember the debt that we owe those who have served their country, honoring and respecting them," he said while holding his grandson Ruben's hand, who was wearing a black "POW/MIA" t-shirt and holding a folded U.S. flag. "In honoring and respecting them we will be able to pass freedom down to these young men and women. By remembering yesterday we can take care of tomorrow." \nYesterday for Davis includes a one-year tour of Vietnam, for which he enlisted directly out of high school to follow in the footsteps of his father who served in World War II and his grandfather who served in World War I. According to a short bio by Peter Collier supplied in the "POPS" program, his unit of 11 artillery guns and 42 supporting soldiers was transported Nov. 18, 1967 into an area west of Cai Lay to establish a forward fire-support base in the form of 105 mm howitzers for American infantrymen operating in the surrounding jungle. \nAbout 2 a.m. the following morning, a reinforced Viet Cong battalion launched a fierce ground assault with heavy mortar, and about 1,500 soldiers swarmed Davis and his fellow Americans. He took control of a machine gun and provided covering fire for his gun crew before their howitzer was knocked out, according to both the bio and citation.\n"The enemy thought, because of our age -- the average being 19 -- and our numbers, that when they ran at us we would leave," Davis said. "But we stood our ground and took care of each other. That's what soldiers do. It's our job."\nDavis returned to the burning howitzer and fired a shell point blank into the Viet Cong battalion charging at him five-deep directly in front of the weapon. Despite being hit with metal fragments from an enemy mortar round that seriously wounded him, Davis fired at least four more rounds before retreating to an air mattress to help rescue three wounded comrades on the other side of a deep river, according to both the bio and citation.\nDavis gave three of his injured comrades morphine, and he provided cover fire as another soldier helped the most seriously injured to safety. Davis then pulled two other injured soldiers to safety, and he resumed the fight with another American howitzer crew -- refusing medical attention for his own injuries.\nAs the fight wore down sometime before dawn, Davis was seriously wounded in the back and buttocks by friendly fire. He petitioned Gen. William Westmoreland to stay with his unit instead of being sent home despite his injuries, and he was taken off the line and made a cook throughout the rest of his tour, according to both the bio and citation.\nDavis entertained the "Picnic with the POPS" crowd with a short story of his learning to play the harmonica as a method of to ease his brethren's mind, including his hero Sgt. Dunlap, during idle time in between battles. He said his captain was upset with his unit because more than 70 of his brothers had not yet written home, so he began to write his mother everyday with pictures of clouds and bugs, and she sent him a harmonica in return because she thought he was bored.\nDavis said he liked to play "Shenandoah" so his brothers and sisters could rest, but the habit took on a new meaning after Sgt. Dunlap was killed and he found his name on the Vietnam War Memorial Nov. 11, 1982 in Washington, D.C. He said 25 veterans stopped to listen to him play that morning but 300 were standing next to him when he was done, and he dedicated Saturday night's performance to all American service men and women stationed overseas.\n"I hope what's in our hearts they will feel and this will give them a little bit of rest," Davis said before playing "Shenandoah" on his harmonica to the crowd.