Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: B Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 28-Feb-1947
Hometown: New York, New York
Marital status: Married to Barbara Davis
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: Unknown
Start of tour: 11-Aug-1967
Incident date: 30-May-1968
Date of casualty: 30-May-1968
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Unknown. Other causes.
James Davis died from wounds received while driver of military vehicle on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Five Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
SP4 Gerald Alan Collis
SP4 James Davis
SGT Joseph Harold Graham
PFC George Francis Long
SGT John David Pape
Location of fatality: Hua Nghia, South Vietnam, XT 422 128
Place of interment: Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR JAMES DAVIS
30 MAY 1968
B TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Davis distinguished himself by valorous actions on 30 May 1968, while serving as an Armor Intelligence Specialist with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, on a reconnaissance in force mission northwest of Saigon, Vietnam. The armored column was suddenly engaged by a well concealed enemy force along the roadway. Disregarding his own safety, Specialist Davis remained in a highly exposed position in order to engage a machine gun position that was providing heavy resistance to the assault. In the process, he was mortally wounded by shrapnel from an exploding rocket round. Specialist Four Davis’ personal bravery 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.
Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 5114 (24 June 1968)