Sgt. Rodney Maxwell Davis

This blog is about the only Medal of Honor recipient from Macon, Georgia, Rodney Maxwell Davis. Davis was a Sergeant for the United States Marines, served his country, and made the ultimate sacrifice  even though no one asked him to.


Davis was born on April 7, 1942 in Macon, Georgia to Gordon N. Davis and Ruth A. Davis. He grew up in Macon and graduated from Peter G. Appling high School on May 29, 1961. It was later that he decided to enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He reported to basic training, completed it, and then was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in December 1961. There he underwent Individual Combat Training and graduated in February. Rodney Davis was a fine Marine and was promoted all the way up to Sergeant on December 1, 1966.

He was then sent overseas to the war zone in August 1967. It was here in Vietnam that Rodney Davis would prove just what kind of leader he really was.

On September 6, 1967, he was operating his unit on a search and clear mission during Operation Swift. It was then that Davis and his men were attacked by a very large North Vietnamese force. Much of his platoon was pinned down by enemy mortar fire, heavy automatic, and small arms fire. He went from man to man, giving them encouragement to fight the enemy. Suddenly an enemy grenade fell in the trenches and without hesitation Davis fell on the grenade.

He saved the lives of his fellow Marines from sure death. This selfless act earned the nation's highest military decoration: the Medal of Honor. He also earned the Purple Heart, Vietnam Military Merit Medal, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross.

The frigate USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60) was named in his honor.

Sergeant Davis is survived by his wife, Judy P. Davis, two daughters Nichola Davis, and Samantha J. Davis-Steen.

Medal of Honor Citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

SERGEANT RODNEY M. DAVIS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the right guide of the Second Platoon, Company B, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division, in action against enemy forces in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, on September 6, 1967. Elements of the Second Platoon were pinned down by a numerically superior force of attacking North Vietnamese Army Regulars. Remnants of the platoon were located in a trench line where Sergeant Davis was directing the fire of his men in an attempt to repel the enemy attack. Disregarding the enemy hand grenades and high volume of small arms and mortar fire, Sergeant Davis moved from man to man shouting words of encouragement to each of them firing and throwing grenades at the onrushing enemy. When an enemy grenade landed in the trench in the midst of his men, Sergeant Davis, realizing the gravity of the situation, and in a final valiant act of complete self-sacrifice, instantly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing with his own body the full and terrific force of the explosion. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of almost certain death, Sergeant Davis saved his comrades from injury and possible loss of life, enabled his platoon to hold its vital position, and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON