A well-told biography of a true American hero and Medal of Honor awardee. His heroic efforts to his men in Vietnam truly shine as an example of the spirit and perseverance of the soldier. The fight and struggles he faced to be awarded the medal he deserved was horrible. Was it bias against his race or incompetence? One would hope that our leaders would not have knowingly perpetrated this miscarriage of justice and recognition. The book is inspirational and one that should be read by all.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Loved this story of Paris Davis’ contributions to the war effort in Vietnam. Beyond that it is the story of his remarkable life and the 50+ years needed to finally approve him for the Medal of Honor. Beautiful read in so many ways. Thankful to NetGalley for the read!

Every Weapon I Had by Paris Davis
A Vietnam Vet's Long Road to the Medal of Honor
Narrated by Dale Hopper; Joshua Quinn

I appreciate getting to read this book about the career of Colonel Paris Davis. Born into a large black family in Cleveland, Ohio he was driven to work and succeed at a young age. Attending college on an ROTC scholarship, Davis was deployed to Vietnam in 1962 and 1965 and was one of the first African American Special Forces officers, during a time when both the Civil Rights Movement was ramping up in the US and the controversy about the US being involved in Vietnam was growing stronger by the day.

I'm not often able to follow the accountings of battles but Davis's relating of his wartime efforts came across very clearly to me. I could not imagine the physical encounters he was involved in without his very distinct step by step recounting as he led his men through the battle that started on June 18, 1965 in the Bình Định province. The title of this book is not exaggerating, Davis did use every weapon he had, including his fists, to survive the many hours of fighting that took place during this battle. Not only did he keep fighting, he kept working to save his men, refusing to leave behind men when he was already wounded and had the chance to helicopter back to base. That battle was not the only example of his bravery and refusal to quit and leave others behind.

More than once Davis was nominated for the Medal of Honor but the paperwork kept getting "lost". It is thanks to the efforts of a huge number of supporters and those who saw Davis in action first hand that he finally received his Medal of Honor 58 years after his first nomination. This book is so easy to read and it is enlightening to see the Civil Rights Movement through eyes of a man who felt the injustices inflicted on himself and others like him. Davis's sacrifices were not just physical. He had to fight for his career in many ways and had to stand up to the prejudices of those who should have known better rather than be jealous of his military accomplishments.

I'm once again struck by the awe I have for soldiers who have been to war, seen and done all that happens there, and who can come home and function in civilian life again. I know that often they really can't function very well and never are able to put behind them all that they have encountered during their military careers. Just reading Davis's account of what he and his men saw and went through will stick in my mind always and that's just a small part of all that happens somewhere in this world on a daily basis. I am so glad that Colonel Paris Davis received his awards while he is still alive and acknowledge the very long and important effort each person put into making sure that Davis was recognized for his heroic feats.

I read and listened to this book to the very end and appreciate both narrators who allowed us to hear Paris Davis words loud and clear. I'm still going through the notes at the end of the book, looking up people, places and events. Once again, I'm getting a better understanding of the Vietnam war through those who were there, on the ground, in the battles, and behind the scenes. One of my first real memories of how it affected my life personally was attending the funeral of a cousin who died as a medic in this war. I'll never forget the dignity with which his mother accepted the American flag at his funeral.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the audiobook, ebook, and print book of this ARC.

If you are a fan of military battles or memoirs, this book is for you. Army Colonel (ret.) Paris Davis, Green Beret, describes his path in the Army Special Forces both before and after the battle in Bong Son. His book focuses on the battle and the prolonged campaign that resulted in him rightfully being awarded the Medal of Honor fifty-odd years later.

5 bright stars for this memoir. Col. Davis is obviously a man of integrity, the kind I would like to know. He would made the kind of General this country needs. His descriptions bring you right into the action, making you feel as the men must have at the time.

My thanks to St. Martins Press and Col. (ret.) Paris Davis.

#memoir #netgalley #colparisdavis #stmartinspress #vietnamwar #medalofhonor #kindlesallthewaydown

Colonel Paris Davis started out as a Black kid in Cleveland, Ohio who went to school and learned well despite a notorious family tragedy. He was able to go to college and ROTC even in that time of visible inequality. He earned a place in the Green Berets and fought hard in the Vietnam war, saved others, and came home alive only to face anger and disrespect. This was not just because of his color, but because of an uprising of anger against the war and those who promoted it. Despite all that he spent the remaining years as career army. He was nominated and eligible for the Medal of Honor but was delayed from receiving it until 58 years after his battle. It wasn't until 2023 that his Silver Star was upgraded and he was finally honored by President Biden.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
#EveryWeaponIHad by Colonel Paris Davis @stmartinspress #NamVet @mohmuseum @vietnamwarhappened @vietnamwarcommemoration @vietnam_war_archives #memoir #MedalofHonor #inequality #heroism #unpopularwar #purpleheart #militaryhistory #usspecialforces #blackofficer #civilrights #bureaucracy

very Weapon I Had: A Vietnam Vet's Long Road to the Medal of Honor is a powerful and deeply moving account of Col. Paris Davis’s extraordinary courage and perseverance—both on the battlefield and in the decades-long fight for recognition. The book vividly captures the chaos and intensity of the Vietnam War, especially Davis’s heroic leadership during a brutal 1965 firefight in Bong Son. Wounded and outgunned, Davis risked his life to rescue his fellow soldiers, displaying selflessness and bravery that should have earned him the Medal of Honor immediately. The story also paints a sobering picture of the racial prejudice that delayed that recognition for nearly six decades.
This is a compelling and important read that earns a solid four stars. The writing is clear and evocative, effectively blending military history with the broader civil rights struggle unfolding back home. At times, the pacing slows as the book delves into historical context, but this background ultimately adds depth to Davis’s story. Every Weapon I Had is not just a war story—it’s a tribute to resilience, integrity, and the long, unfinished work of justice.

Fascinating look at the life of a Black soldier who fought for his country with honor and dignity. Green Beret, Ranger, Medal of Honor recipient. Many thanks to the author for telling the story not only of his life but the truth about a war that was lied about by the press and many military and political figures.

Wow this book was amazing. I started reading about the Vietnam War after listen to the woman. This book was absolutely fantastic. I will be sharing this with my father who is a veteran and also on my Facebook book. I did not want to put it down, I just couldn't. I was so moving!

Thank You to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This the story of Paris Davis who was a black officer during the period of civil rights.
About his life growing up and his career in the Special Forces as a Green Beret, his time in Vietnam and his family life.
His bravery didn't go unnoticed by the men that fought by his side but a nomination for the Congressional Medal of Honor was continually misplaced. Those that fought with him and worked with him during his career stood up alongside him until finally, 58 years after his battle in Vietnam, he finally had that most deserving medal pinned to his chest.
I went into this book thinking that it would mostly be about the Vietnam War, but it was so much more. This is about a man that was fighting on two fronts, as a soldier during a war and as a black man fighting for his right of recognition of bravery in a world of unequal civil rights.

I could not get past the first chapter. It was that bad. I served 10 years myself from 1970 to 1982 with a 2 year cap. I never saw the level of racism this book talks about. Sorry he went in that direction with this book.

I never enjoyed history in school, but I get caught up in the stories of the past told by those that were present. I want to thank Stephen Erickson of St. Martin's Press for granting me an ARC copy of this book, which is one of the clearest accounts I have read about events in America and in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Davis describes the horrible challenges faced by a black man in America: in the North, the south and in the Military. Through Davis' words, I feel the danger, insult and betrayal thrown his way on a daily basis. By all accounts, this very well spoken man may have felt the hurt but always turned inward to to better himself and outward to help those around him. The account of his military service is tragic, heroic ... incredible! Davis survived so much during the war and still afterward without recrimination against those that were clearly derelict of duty. I am ashamed for my fellow countrymen to learn about the systemic racial discrimination Davis faced; I would like to say that America of today is a better world, but I fear that we may be backsliding.
This story is a compelling war tale, but even more so the story of a man that finally received recognition for being a brave soldier and steadfast leader that consistently risked his safety to help and save those around him. The tale is even more poignant told in Davis' own point of view, as he continually had to persevere despite derogatory affronts and setbacks. If our leaders had the moral fortitude and the ethical foundation of Davis, our country would once again be a great nation.

I received a free copy of, Every Weapon I had, by Paris Davis, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Paris Davis fought in Vietnam, he was a black officer in the Green Berets. The Vietnam war was a horrible war, when are troops came back home they were treated horribly. This is an interesting and sad read.

I am glad to see that there are still veterans writing about Vietnam. This was a well written read regarding Col. Davis's experiences before, during and after the Vietnam War. It was inciteful and like others, I am saddened that Col. Davis had to wait so long for his deserved recognition for his actions but thrilled that it has been rectified even if it was so much later than called for.

Overall, this was a good read that I would recommend to others.