During World War II , Davis was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 aged 18 . After suffering abuse from other soldiers , he was reassigned the military occupation code " 442-Entertainment Specialist " and sent to the Army 's Special Services branch which put on performances for troops . However , during one show he found himself performing in front of soldiers who had previously racially abused him . Davis , who earned the American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal , was discharged in 1945 with the rank of private . He later said : " My talent was the weapon , the power , the way for me to fight . It was the one way I might hope to affect a man 's thinking . " In February 1972 , during the later stages of the Vietnam War , Davis went to Vietnam to observe military drug abuse rehabilitation programs and talk to and entertain the troops . He did this as a representative from President Nixon ’s Special Action Office For Drug Abuse Prevention . He performed shows for up to 15,000 troops ; after one two-hour performance he reportedly said " I 've never been so tired and felt so good in my life . " The U.S. Army made a documentary about Davis ' time in Vietnam performing for troops on behalf of Nixon 's drug treatment program
World War II Victory Medal
World War II Victory Medal (United States)
Sammy Davis Jr.