The “real Forrest Gump” played left tackle for the Manteca High Buffaloes.
Sammy Davis — a former Manteca High student and San Joaquin County native — is in arguably the most widely viewed footage of a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient being presented his medal by a President.
The footage of President Lyndon B. Johnson placing the medal around Davis’ neck during ceremonies on Nov. 19, 1968 at the White House was used in the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump.”
Producers replaced Johnson’s face with that of actor Tom Hanks.
The rest of the footage in the movie is from the original presentation except Davis never showed the President his wounds as Hanks did portraying Gump.
The original footage is part of the exhibits at the National Medal of Honor Museum opening Tuesday, March 25, in Arlington, Texas.
The $150 million museum took three years to construct.
It highlights the lives and service of Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War to the global war on terrorism. Over 3,500 people have received the Medal of Honor, which is awarded by Congress for risking one's life in combat beyond the call of duty.
It has extensive exhibits including interactive artificial intelligence where those visiting the museum can have “conversations” with several Medal of Honor recipients.
Davis is among the six Medal of Honor recipients that will be on hand today for a celebration marking the museum’s completion ahead of its opening on Tuesday.
There are just over 60 living Medal of Honor recipients.
The hopes of a featured
Medal of Honor recipient
Jack Jacobs, a retired U.S. Army colonel who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War, said he wants museum visitors to realize the recipients aren't "spectacular supermen," but regular people who "embody the kinds of values that are really important."
"Really grand things, not just in combat, but in everyday life ... are all accomplished by ordinary people who come to the conclusion that something has to be done and they are going to do it," Jacobs said.
When his unit was ambushed by the Viet Cong on March 9, 1968, Jacobs took charge after his commander was seriously wounded. Despite being wounded in the head by shrapnel and bleeding heavily, Jacobs reorganized the company and repeatedly ran through enemy fire to rescue the wounded, saving the lives of a U.S. adviser and 13 soldiers.
Jacobs, now 79, said he lost a lot of friends in the battle.
"You really do wear the award for all of the people who can't wear the award," he said.
The museum's focus is on telling the life stories of the recipients, said Alexandra Rhue, the museum's senior vice president of engagement. "Here you met the people first and then you learn what they did," Rhue said.
The recipients featured in the museum include those from various branches of the military, conflicts and geographic locations, as well as different ethnicities and races.
Chris Cassidy, the museum's president and CEO, said he hopes the exhibits inspire visitors.
"Everybody needs courage in some form or fashion," he said. "So that's our aim: to inspire people through the stories of Medal of Honor actions, to bring a little courage into your own life."
Several of the recipients, including Jacobs, appear in videos in an exhibit where their images answer visitors' questions. There are over 60 recipients who are still living.
The museum is nestled amongst Globe Life Field, where the Texas Rangers play, and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Sammy Davis’ story
Davis, 78, grew up in French Camp where he fondly remembers playing in canals during the summer to cool off.
At Manteca High, he played left tackle on the Buffaloes football team and was on the dive team.
It was also at Manteca High where he was influenced by several teachers including Bill Forbes.
“He (Forbes) taught me to stand up for what I thought was right in my heart,” Davis said during an interview 20 years ago.
Davis attended Manteca High through his junior year. After that, his family moved to Indiana. He enlisted in the Army in Indianapolis.
Davis’ decision to enlist in the military at the height of the Vietnam War was a no-brainer for him.
“It was my time to serve,” Davis recalled during a visit to Manteca in 2016.
His father, Robert Davis, served in World War II. Brother Hubert “Buddy” Davis served in the Korean War and brother Darrell Davis served in the Vietnam War. His grandfather also served in the Spanish-American War.
Davis has been a Sea Scout in Stockton. Because of that, when he went to the recruitment center, his intent was to join the Marines.
“This is the truth,” Davis said when he started to explain why he joined the Army, “I don’t like standing in lines. The line to join the Army was shorter, so I got in that line and joined the Army.”
The defining moment of Davis’ life took place nearly 57 years ago in November 1967 west of Cai Lay in the Republic of Vietnam.
Davis was a 21-year-old sergeant with the U.S. Army, Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division.
A number of his seriously wounded comrades were hollering out for help across a deep Vietnam river as 1,500 enemy troops were advancing on 42 Americans. Davis didn’t worry about the fact he was wounded so he couldn’t swim or that heavy incoming fire threatened to end his life at any second.
Davis helped fire rounds back at the enemy located some 25 meters away when mortars hit American artillery positions and gravely injured three of his comrades. Between valiant efforts to keep the enemy from advancing, Davis grabbed an air mattress and struck out across the river to rescue his wounded comrades one by one. Each time he reached the far shore Davis stood up and opened fire on the enemy to prevent them from advancing and finishing off the three soldiers.
Though suffering from critical wounds, Davis’ heroics continued after he pulled the last man back across the river. He refused medical attention and instead joined another howitzer crew that fired at the large Viet Cong force until it broke contact and fled.
Davis literally grew up in Vietnam sprouting up seven inches and adding 40 to 45 pounds to his frame.
“The military is a way of life, it’s a brotherhood,” said Davis in 2007. “There is no doubt in my mind that every one of my fellow soldiers would have swum across that river to get me.”
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletim.com
