Can you tell from the look in his eye?
Posted on 10/22/2024 12:42:07 PM PDT by griffin
Benavidez was at a forward operating base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when the helicopters, who attempted the extraction, returned to off-load wounded crewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft in order 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 heavy 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 his injuries, Benavidez 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, 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, 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 the men. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Benavidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire in order to 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. He began to ferry the troops to the aircraft and on his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from behind by an enemy soldier. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he sustained additional wounds to his head and arms before killing the enemy. He then continued under fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the helicopter from an angle that prevented the 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 did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Benavidez’s actions saved the lives of at least eight men.
During the six hours of continuous operations, Benavidez suffered a broken jaw and 37 bullet and bayonet puncture wounds. He was so mauled that his commanding officer did not believe he would live long enough to receive the Medal of Honor, so he nominated him for the Distinguished Service Cross instead, because the No. 2 award would take less time to process. However, Benavidez survived, and received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). Years later, General William C. Westmoreland, who had awarded Benavidez the DSC, learned details of Benavidez’s heroics. He then nominated him for upgrade to the Medal of Honor. Benavidez received the medal in 1981 from President Ronald Reagan during a White House ceremony.
Can you tell from the look in his eye?
He was something, his story always grabbed me, it was so balls to the wall for so many hours and always with his green beret intelligence in full command of himself and his actions as he stayed fully focused on mission.
An amazing American hero.
An incredible soldier. And lived a good example in life afterwards.
Hat’s off to ya!! d:^)
Met him in ‘81. The atmosphere in the room was otherworldly.
Hand Salute.
South Texas boy made good. Salute.
Colonel, USAF JAGC (Ret)
Unbelievable! That was the ultimate soldier I think I’d ever heard of.
Met him at an American Legion Convention - he was a great guy - talked to everyone.
Does this country still produce men like this?
Watch the Fat Electrician’s video on this guy on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJeIeW9WDtA
“After the battle, he was evacuated to the base camp, examined, and thought to be dead. As he was placed in a body bag among the other dead in body bags, he was suddenly recognized by a friend who called for help. A doctor came and examined him but believed Benavidez was dead. The doctor was about to zip up the body bag when Benavidez managed to spit in his face to show that he was alive. Benavidez had a total of 37 separate bullet, bayonet, and shrapnel wounds from the six-hour fight with the enemy battalion.”
Bttt.
5.56mm
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