BEAUMONT, Texas — A 100-year-old Southeast Texas World War II vet was honored with new medals after his were lost decades ago.
12News was there as U.S. Representative Brian Babin was there to present Sam Davis with the new hardware.
Davis says he couldn't be happier to be surrounded by his family as he was honored for serving his country.
Babin stopped by Davis' home in Beaumont earlier this afternoon and was able to sit face-to-face with Davis getting to know the 100-year-old veteran.
The Army Air Corps veteran was presented with a certificate of special congressional recognition along with a special capital-flown American flag, a challenge coin and four shiny new combat medals.
Babin tells 12News he was honored to have the opportunity to recognize a hero.
"It means the world to me. A member of the greatest generation who came up through hard times and fought the imperial Japanese and the Germans and prevailed and gave us the country we have today," Babin said.
Davis says he was overwhelmed with emotion after receiving the honors. He says his unwavering dedication to God, country and family was instilled in him from his service in the military. It never faded in over 40 years of work with Texaco, all the way through his 100th birthday, which he celebrated in May.
"I did everything in the world the army told me to do. I never questioned them, and whatever they said they were boss, and that's been my life all the way through until now, I've done what I was supposed to do," Davis said.
Davis earned the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Davis' B-29 Superfortress was part of the 62nd squadron that flew missions out of the northwest field of Guam in 1944 against Imperial Japan.
12News would like to send a big congratulations to Corporal Davis on his achievements and to many more years of well-earned happiness and peace.