Bibb County GaArchives Photo Tombstone.....Davis, Rodney Maxwell ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: James W. Allen jallen46@cox.net July 2, 2005, 9:10 pm Cemetery: Linwood Cemetery Name: Rodney Maxwell Davis Date Of Photograph: June 25, 2005 Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/bibb/photos/tombstones/linwood/davis6334ph.jpg Image file size: 65.0 Kb Sergeant Rodney Maxwell Davis "United States Marine Corps" United States Medal of Honor Recipient b: 7 April 1942 d: 6 September 1967 Macon, Georgia Quang Nay Province, Viet Nam "For conspicious gallantry and integrity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the sight 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 Viet Nam." Additional Comments: Rodney Maxwell Davis United States of America Medal of Honor Recipient Rodney Maxwell Davis was born of Gordon N. Davis and Ruth A. Davis on April 7, 1942. He was one of five children, and therefore understood the importance of bonds among a group and respect of a hierachy. Just a few months after graduating from Peter G. Appling High School he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in Macon, Georgia (August 1961). During September through December of the same year he completed recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Just a few months later in January and February of 1962, Rodney made his way to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and completed his individual combat training. In the few years after, he trained as a rifleman in North Carolina and with the Marine Rifle Squad in Washington, D.C. and was also educated in Military Functions in Civil Disturbances and Disasters, Map and Aerial Photo reading, Operations Against Guerrilla Forces and M60 Machinegun operation. Finally, in August of 1967, with an ample amount of experience and education in the military, Sgt. Davis was named Platoon Guide of Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in the Quang Nam Province where he met his fateful day on September 6. His citation reads: "During the heavy battle, enemy forces moved to within five meters of the Marine position, throwing a number of hand grenades. One of the grenades landed in the midst of the Marines in the trench. Sgt. 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 body the full and terrific force of the explosion. Through his extraoidinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of almost certain death, Sgt. 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." Sgt. Rodney Maxwell Davis is survived by his wife Judy P. Davis and his two daughters Nichola Amanda and Samantha Jane. When the family first learned of Rodney's death, they were, undoubtedly in shock. It was not for another two years, however that they learned he had died a hero. When a Marine Corps serviceman showed up at Judy Davis' door, she was excited and thought that maybe a mistake had been made and her husband was still alive. She was disappointed, however, when she learned it was "just" the Medal of Honor. She later said, "I was very young; I had no idea what it meant." On January 11, 1986, about 50 of Davis relatives sat in a crowd that gathered to witness the christening of a new missile frigate named the USS Rodney M. Davis. This was the first ship in over thirteen years named after a black American and the first to be named after a Vietnam veteran. Macon, Georgia has taken great lengths to honor their one and only Medal of Honor recipient. At City Hall there is a memorial flame, a public housing unit named after him on Main Street, and a 4 by 5 1/2 foot granite monument at his grave site in Linwood cemetery, which was funded by the Northeast High School Junior ROTC unit. There is also a blue-granite monument of a Marine to honor Davis at the corner of Cotton Avenue and Poplar Street. If we are to learn one thing from the past, it should be to act upon what you believe in, and do it right. In the end, heart-felt instinct will prevail. **This documentation of Sgt. Rodney Maxwell Davis was part of a compilation put together and named "Climbing The Hill" by students of Mercer University as an assignment by their professor Mr. Randy Harshbarger, Dept. of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mercer University, 2004. This particular part on Rodney Davis was compiled by Noah Calar. It is not a complete rendition of the original, but shortened for space on the site.** File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/bibb/photos/tombstones/linwood/davis6334ph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb