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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez ~ 26 November 07
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World | StarCMC and Ziggy

Posted on 11/25/2007 5:59:33 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska

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1 posted on 11/25/2007 5:59:37 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska
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To: Kathy in Alaska






Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen
at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

~Tribute to Our Troops~


2 posted on 11/25/2007 6:00:49 PM PST by AZamericonnie
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Hello Kathy


3 posted on 11/25/2007 6:00:51 PM PST by Lost Dutchman ("Weep for the future Na'Toth, Weep for us all." (G'Kar-Babylon 5))
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To: Kathy in Alaska


Aloha Night Owl!

4 posted on 11/25/2007 6:01:01 PM PST by BIGLOOK (Keelhauling is a sensible solution to mutiny.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Good evening, everybody!


5 posted on 11/25/2007 6:01:26 PM PST by Tanniker Smith ("What are we doing tomorrow, Hil?" "Same thing we do every night, Bill, try to take over the world!")
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Hey, I know this name!


6 posted on 11/25/2007 6:01:29 PM PST by HiJinx (~ Support our Troops ~ www.americasupportsyou.mil ~)
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To: StarCMC; MoJo2001; txradioguy; Jet Jaguar; tongue-tied; laurenmarlowe; AZamericonnie; MS.BEHAVIN; ..
Star and family are attending a church function this evening.
I am posting her thread for her.

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread





FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD



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To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.

To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open.

The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
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The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.



CLICK BELOW to ENTER the
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Can you spare a few moments today to either
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7 posted on 11/25/2007 6:05:42 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: AZamericonnie

Rack this hero

I remember this story long time ago back in da day his story was feature on I think War stories with Oliver North


8 posted on 11/25/2007 6:07:06 PM PST by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
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To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC

Thank you both & Ziggy for this evenings thread! *Hugs*


9 posted on 11/25/2007 6:07:48 PM PST by AZamericonnie
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To: Kathy in Alaska; tomkow6; LUV W; All

HEY KATHY guess what my uncle told me

He getting snow in Fairbanks AK right now yup about 3 inches fell this afternoon

Well well guess who back according to Drudge report Pat Bucchaon dude has new book out called farewell to America


10 posted on 11/25/2007 6:08:18 PM PST by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
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To: StarCMC
Thank you Ziggy, for helping Star with today's Hall of Heroes: Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez


11 posted on 11/25/2007 6:10:31 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
I remember here on FR the many tributes to this great man and his valor, and the citation that was posted about him when he died in 1998.

To this day, I let my sons read such citations and know of the valor it takes to defend freedom and liberty and preserve our way of life...a long, honored tradition of valor stretching back well over 200 years.

RIP, Master Sergeant Benavidez, you have not been, nor will you ever be, forgotten. May you rest easy in the eternal arms of your Savior.

Although the Archives do not seem to go back that far, here's a thread from 2001 honoring him.

Lawmakers Honor Master Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez

12 posted on 11/25/2007 6:11:21 PM PST by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

HiYa


13 posted on 11/25/2007 6:18:08 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SevenofNine

Hi Diva.....I’m so grateful to Star for bringing these accounts of our Heroes!

I had not heard of Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez.


14 posted on 11/25/2007 6:18:24 PM PST by AZamericonnie
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Here is the actual Citation:
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION:

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.

15 posted on 11/25/2007 6:22:17 PM PST by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: SandRat

Hiya Sandy.
Long time no see.
Hope you’re doin’ well and feelin’ fine.
((blessings to you))


16 posted on 11/25/2007 6:22:24 PM PST by MeekMom (Present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Evening Kathy, Hugs.


17 posted on 11/25/2007 6:22:31 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
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To: AZamericonnie

Evening Connie. Hugs.


18 posted on 11/25/2007 6:23:03 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
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To: BIGLOOK

Evening Big Look.


19 posted on 11/25/2007 6:23:23 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
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To: Tanniker Smith

Evening Tanniker....Back to school tomorrow?


20 posted on 11/25/2007 6:23:55 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
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