Sammy Davis looks nothing like Forrest Gump.

Unlike the character in the 1994 movie, he's partial to catfish, not shrimp. His pastime was pool, not ping pong. And he wasn't born in a little fictional Alabama town called Greenbow.

Still, the life of the man who's sometimes called the "real Forrest Gump" mimics the fictional character where it counts.

Just like Forrest, Mr. Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor after rescuing several of his wounded comrades during a Viet Cong attack. Video of Mr. Davis receiving the honor from President Lyndon B. Johnson was used in the film, with Mr. Hanks's face superimposed over Mr. Davis'.

On Thursday, Mr. Davis told his story to members of the Augusta Exchange Club.

Standing before the crowd with the medal clasped around his neck, Mr. Davis recounted how after suffering injuries from a mortar round, he swam three of his wounded comrades across a nearby river using a small air mattress.

Mr. Davis, born in Dayton, Ohio, said that from a young age he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was an artilleryman in World War II. In November 1967, he was among a group of men operating howitzers near Cai Lay when they were attacked. He was taken to Saigon to be treated for his wounds where he played pool.

"We all helped each other down the hallway, then we would play pool," he said. "We didn't even want to, but it was teaching us hand-eye coordination again."

Mr. Davis said his efforts in Cai Lay not only earned him the medal, but also resulted in several health issues and memories he'll never forget.

"Almost with every breath I'm reminded of Vietnam," Mr. Davis said.

Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.