Holcomb Awards Indiana's Highest Honor To Vietnam Veteran

Associated Press

Retired Sgt. Sammy L. Davis thanks the members of the law enforcement agencies who found and returned his Medal of Honor, which had been stolen, during a re-presentation ceremony on July 21, 2005, in Indianapolis. Gov. Eric Holcomb has announced Davis will receive Indianaâ€™s highest honor, the Sachem Award, during a ceremony in March.
*AP Photo/John Harrell*

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Eric Holcomb is awarding Indiana's highest honor to a Vietnam veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

Sammy L. Davis of Freedom will receive the 2018 Sachem Award during a ceremony in March.

Davis was near the South Vietnamese city of Cai Lay in 1967 when his unit came under fire. He was wounded, but took over a burning artillery piece and fired off several rounds at the Viet Cong. He then used an air mattress to cross a river and rescue wounded before joining another unit with a howitzer to continue fighting.

Davis broke his back, but continued serving in the Army until 1984.

The 71-year-old joins a distinguished group of Sachem winners, including Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor and late Notre Dame President Theodore Hesburgh.

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