Posted on 07/25/2008 11:24:25 AM PDT by Brian_Baldwin
My heart was in my throat. Someone say McCain can’t give a good speech? Well, the live speech he just gave at the American GI Forum in Denver was something that really moved me, and I believe it would any true American. Especially the story of Benavidez, whom honestly I knew nothing about.
I was watching on FOX News, cable. Prior to McCain describing us the story of Benavidez (and I’m sorry and ashamed, I am so ignorant of him that I do not even know if I am spelling his name correctly, and yet such an American hero should be part of my own ethos), I flipped to MSNBC cable. This was at the start of McCain’s dialog, and it seemed they were covering the speech.
But into the moving story of Benavidez, I flipped from FOX to MSNBC again.
This time they were not covering the live speech. Those pigs did the same tricks the phony liberal enemies of Democracy always do. The same bastards who worship the Messiah Obama.
I hate those pigs. I spit on them.
To CNN’s credit, they covered the speech live, and didn’t cut away.
I give credit to McCain on this one. And I salute him. Good speech John.
My husband and I listened to a good bit of this speech and thought it was EXCELLENT!
bttt
Yes it was a good speach.
Roy Benavidez, a Medal of Honor recipient, and the most highly decorated veteran of the war in Vietnam, died November 29, 1998, at age 63. He had been a member of Chapter 1919, Military Order of the Purple Heart for two years at the time of his death. An extract, only a part of the wording from the citation of his award tells this story. The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal of Honor to: MASTER SERGEANT ROY P. BENAVIDEZ, UNITED STATES ARMY, (RETIRED), for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: On May 2, 1968, Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) ROY P. BENAVIDEZ distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions while assigned to Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. A 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam…the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy…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 crew members…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…he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioned the team members and directed their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members…Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the waiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the team 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 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 automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, re-instilling in them a will to live and fight….Sergeant Benavidez…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…he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. 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 his adversary. He then continued 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 door gunner from firing upon them 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 aircraft. His 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.
South Texas boy - an incredibly inspiring story.
Colonel, USAFR
In Roy Benavidez autobiography he ex[lained that he was leaving mass at the FOB when he passed the commo bunker and heard the distress call.
I’ve seen a great painting of MSG Benavidez just before he got on the Chopper. He’s camo’d and festooned with weapons. He’s kneeling and getting the blessing from the chaplain who had just offered mass.
MSG Bensvidez mother was a Yaque indian. The crossed arrows of SF were really his symbol
SOLTC
His 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. <<<
An American.
Thank you for sharing his history, I love meeting the real heroes, even if only in print.
Ping to the story of of “Roy Benavidez, a Medal of Honor recipient, and the most highly decorated veteran of the war in Vietnam, died November 29, 1998, at age 63.”
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