Charles sheriff's office salutes Medal of Honor recipient

Army Col. Paris Davis, a recipient of the Medal of Honor for heroic actions during the Vietnam War, was honored in a ceremony held by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday.

“As a part of [the sheriff’s office] celebration of Black History Month, Sheriff Berry arranged for our organization to have this unique and wonderful opportunity to welcome and make known to you an honorable leader, a true patriot and a hero who served our country with the highest degree of professionalism and bravery,” sheriff’s office Capt. Louis Christian Schmidt III said in his welcome address.

Davis, a native of Cleveland, was one of the first African American Special Forces officers and was deployed in Vietnam twice in 1962 and 1965. He led an outnumbered team against an enemy force, despite being shot and wounded, Schmidt said.

Hundreds of Viet Cong swarmed Davis’ position, where he was shot in the leg and wrist, but still managed to pull his soldiers out to be medically evacuated. According to Schmidt, when Davis was able to be evacuated, Davis refused, saying, “Sir, I’m just not going to leave. I still have an American out there.”

Through his efforts in that fight, he earned the Purple Heart and Silver Star.

Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor on March 3, 2023, when President Joe Biden said, “Right away, it was clear that Paris was a born warrior.”

The Arlington County resident is also the recipient of the Soldier’s Medal for his heroism in pulling a soldier from an overturned and burning fuel truck moments before it exploded. He is one of four service members in history to earn the distinction of having both the Soldier’s Medal and the Medal of Honor.

“[Davis] has definitely inspired me,” Sheriff Troy Berry (D) said. “And I think you have definitely inspired many of our staff members today.”

Berry reminisced on becoming the first Black sheriff in Charles County, saying, “I stated I’m honored that the citizens have endorsed me to lead the sheriff’s office for these next four years. I went on to say I stand here on this platform on the shoulders of many great Americans who have sacrificed to allow me this opportunity, not just to hold office, but to place my name on the ballot.”

“As an African American with shared experiences, I’m extremely proud and humbled to be in [Davis’s] presence,” Berry said.

Davis helped close out the event, saying, “This has been special. I really love being an American.”