Posted on 02/03/2010 5:48:33 PM PST by wildbill
A well done video that honors Roy P. Benavidez remarkable courage in Vietnam that earned the Medal Of Honor. How remarkable was he? The Navy named a ship after this soldier extraordinaire.
We need to stop and honor our heroes once in a while. And not just the Roy Benavidez' but all our men and women in uniform, standing watch for us.
A Medal of Honor Awardee from Vietnam.
BENAVIDEZ, ROY P.
Rank and Organization: Master Sergeant, Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam. Place and Date: West of Loc Ninh on 2 May 1968. Entered Service at: Houston, Texas June 1955. Date and Place of Birth: 5 August 1935, DeWitt County, Cuero, Texas. Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team’s position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team’s position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy’s fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the leader’s body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy’s fire and so permit another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant Benavidez’ gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.
He truly was one wild SOB, to have joined into that level of activity was heroic, to have survived that level of activity that day was miraculous.
Where is our Hollywood movie on him?
One does not “earn” nor does one “win”, the Medal of Honor.
One is “awarded” and one “receives”. It is not a set of criteria that can be completed and thus “earn” the medal. Nor is it a contest where individuals compete and there is a winner.
It is an award that is given by a grateful nation to an individual who shows curage and sacrifice beyond all reasonable expectations while facing the enemy and serving this nation.
I am speechless, gratefull & touched to the core.
This hero walked the walk...
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
Thanks to him for his service!
I have a code name too, just like some gang members do. It's Tango Mike/Mike, and it stands for "That Mean Mexican." That Alpha code name was given to me by my gang - the Special Forces. The youth gangs these days fight with firearms, often injuring innocent people. Conflicts are no longer settled with a fistfight as when I was young. I tell the youngsters there's nothing wrong with fighting. It just depends what you're fighting for. I was called on by my country to fight for freedom. That's always something worth fighting for. I never murdered a man out of revenge, hatred or for racial feelings. I killed that others might be free. There's a big difference between murdering and killing. I tell the students that there are no good excuses for any of them to claim that they are what they are because of racial bigotry. I know what racial bigotry is. I was confronted with it daily as a young Hispanic-Indian American growing up in South Texas.
BS. If you don't think a recipient of the Medal of Honor has earned it then you are most likely the by-product of an outcome based education system.
You earn your marksmanship badge. One can even earn their Ranger, Sapper, Sniper and Special Forces tabs. These are earned by completing a specific criteria.
But the MOH is awarded. Specifically stated under 10 U.S.C. § 3741, which states:
The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who while a member of the Army, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Being awarded an honor, especially an honor for valor, is a far more difficult thing to do than to earn something.
Gentlemen, Roy Benavides was one of the most down to earth, real people I ever met, and I’m sure he would never appreciate, or understand, how this could turn into a war of semantics. He did what he did and was recognized for it. Pour yourselves a small glass of Jack Daniels, little ice, little water, and toast the United States Army, and the Green Beret.
I am sure he was one of a vary rare breed. When I started down the path of Special Forces, almost everyone I was fortunate enough to meet was of the highest caliber. My only regret of my 7 short years in the Army was that my climbing accident ended any hopes of being able to complete the Q course an join their ranks.
I just wanted everyone to know a little bit about this brave man.
Sorry if you don’t approve of my choice of words. I’m basically clueless. You win and earned my apology. Feel better?
Incredible! AA Cunningham, when I see something as foolish as your statement, I am amazed. "... most likely the by-product of..." so you have the ability to read 'taxcontrol's' well-stated opinions and know where he(?) attended school? Also, you seem to know that every American who attended such schools is an idiot? AA Cunningham, 'taxcontrol' has exposed your childish 'logic.' A BIG man would admit that... but then again, I doubt if you're that big.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.