On the afternoon of April 7, the crew of USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) took time to honor and remember their ship’s namesake in a ceremony on the frigate’s flight deck while the ship and crew was underway off the coast of San Diego.

The ceremony began with Ensign Christopher Richling delivering the late Sgt. Rodney M. Davis’ biography.

“Rodney M. Davis was born April 7, 1942, in Macon, Georgia,” he read. “Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in August 1967, he was operating with Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in the Quang Nam Province on a search and clear mission when they were attacked by a large North Vietnamese force.”

“Elements of the platoon were pinned down in a trench line by mortars, heavy automatic and small arms fire. He went from man to man encouraging them on and also returning fire at the same time. An enemy hand grenade fell in the trenches his men were fighting from and without hesitation he threw himself upon the grenade. At the age of only 25, he saved his fellow Marines in this selfless act and thus earned the nation’s highest military decoration . . . the Medal of Honor.”

Davis Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Jim Minta, next spoke to the crew and challenged them to uphold and honor the memory of Sgt. Davis each day. 

“Live up to the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment and lead from the front,” Minta said. “By taking this challenge, we will demonstrate to our Sailors that we really do care for them and have their best interests in mind.  Once your Sailors believe that, they will follow you to the ends of the earth, just as Sgt. Davis’ Marines followed him.”

Following a rendition of “Taps” by Ensign Matt Kenfield, the oldest and youngest Sailors on board, QM1(SW) Bert Kortum and GSMFR Derrick Bowers carried out the traditional cake cutting. The two layer cake, decorated by CS3 Salvadore Moreno, had Sgt. Davis’ name along with the insignia of the 1st Marine Division, Davis’ unit in Vietnam. 

“It is very easy to forget the big picture. We all make sacrifices while serving in the military, but Sgt. Davis made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Ensign Roger Young. “This was our little way of saying thank you to our fallen shipmates for making the ultimate sacrifice and that they are never forgotten.”

Rodney M. Davis is currently conducting Unit Level Training off the coast of Southern California.