Watch live: President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor to Colonel Paris Davis | USA TODAY

Paris Davis, one of the first Black commanders to lead an elite unit in combat, saved the lives of fellow soldiers despite being wounded himself.

One of the first Black commanders to lead an elite unit in combat is receiving the nation's highest award for valor, fixing what advocates viewed as a decades-long injustice. President Joe Biden will award the prestigious honor to retired U.S. Army Col. Paris D. Davis at a White House ceremony Friday.

Davis dragged fellow soldiers to safety despite being wounded himself as he held off a vastly superior enemy force during a 1965 raid on a North Vietnamese army camp in Bong Son, according to the White House. The package of recommendations and supporting documents for a Medal of Honor for Davis was lost at least twice as his nomination bounced around the Army and the Pentagon for nearly six decades.

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[michellemartin]

Wow this Soldier should gotten his 🥇 a long time ago.

[Leatrice]

Just Beautiful Colonial! Truly THANK YOU for your service! Peace, Blessings to you always!

[b-eggbeast]

Was very proud to attend this as a member if the volunteer team who campaigned for the medal award.

[kmbrly]

Wow, he is a bonafied HERO! Talk about brave!! I love at the end how President Biden had to run a little to catch up with him. He's active and still moving!!

[brunogingras]

Soldier Davis and President Biden got tons of class... As a friend from Montreal

[billyhill]

How many years it took this country to recognize him? 60 years

[maureencora]

HBCU Grad of Southern University of Louisiana, a True Jaguar. God Bless Him.