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Why it took 60 years for a Vietnam vet to get the Medal of Honor

NPR | By Quil Lawrence

Published March 10, 2026 at 5:32 PM EDT

Paris Davis' was among the first Black men to lead green berets. His service in Vietnam would earn him the medal of honor, only it took nearly 60 years for him to receive the award.

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Quil Lawrence

Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide. He won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for his coverage of American veterans and a Gracie Award for coverage of female combat veterans. In 2019 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America honored Quil with its IAVA Salutes Award for Leadership in Journalism.

See stories by Quil Lawrence

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