Roy Benavidez

Roy P. Benavidez was born in Lindenau near Cuero, Texas, in DeWitt County. He is a descendant of the founders of Benavides, Texas, and was the son of a Mexican farmer, Salvador Benavidez, Jr. and a Yaqui mother, Teresa Perez.

When he was two years old, his father died of tuberculosis and his mother remarried. Five years later, his mother died from tuberculosis as well.[1] Benavidez and his younger brother Roger moved to El Campo, where their grandfather, uncle and aunt raised them along with eight cousins.

Benavidez shined shoes at the local bus station, labored on farms in California and Washington, and worked at a tire shop in El Campo. He dropped out of school at age 15, in order to work full-time to help support the family.

Army Master Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez (center) is flanked by United States Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger (left) and President Ronald Reagan at his Medal of Honor presentation ceremony in 1981.

In 1973, after more detailed accounts became available, Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel Ralph R. Drake insisted that Benavidez receive the Medal of Honor. By then, however, the time limit on the medal had expired. An appeal to Congress resulted in an exemption for Benavidez, but the Army Decorations Board denied him an upgrade of his Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor. The Army required an eyewitness account from someone present during the action; Benavidez believed that there were no living witnesses of the events of that day, which by then had become known as "Six Hours in Hell".

Unbeknownst to Benavidez, there was a living witness, who would later provide the eyewitness account necessary: Brian O'Connor, the former radioman of Benavidez's Special Forces team in Vietnam. O'Connor had been severely wounded (Benavidez had believed him dead), and he was evacuated to the United States before his superiors could fully debrief him. O'Connor had been living in the Fiji Islands when, in 1980, he was on holiday in Australia. During his holiday, O'Connor read a newspaper account of Benavidez originally from an El Campo newspaper, which had been picked up by the international press and reprinted in Australia. O'Connor immediately contacted Benavidez and submitted a ten-page report of the encounter, confirming the accounts provided by others, and serving as the necessary eyewitness. Benavidez's Distinguished Service Cross accordingly was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

On February 24, 1981, President Ronald Reagan presented Roy P. Benavidez with the Medal of Honor in the Pentagon. Reagan turned to the press and said, "If the story of his heroism were a movie script, you would not believe it." Reagan then read the official award citation:

Rank and organization: Master Sergeant.
Organization: Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam
Place and date: West of Loc Ninh on May 2, 1968
Entered service at: Houston, Texas, June 1955
Born: August 5, 1935, DeWitt County, Cuero, Texas

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

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

On 2 May 1968, Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions 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 of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company 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, of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, returned to off-load wounded crew members 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 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.[7][note 1] 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.[8][9]

— Ronald Reagan

In 1976, Benavidez, his wife, and their three children returned home to El Campo, Texas. He devoted his remaining years to the youth of America, speaking to them about the importance of staying in school and getting an education. His message was simple: "An education is the key to success. Bad habits and bad company will ruin you."

In 1983, Benavidez told the press that the Social Security Administration planned to cut off disability payments he had been receiving since his retirement, as well as the disability payments for thousands of other veterans. He went to Capitol Hill and pleaded with the House Select Committee on Aging to abandon their plans, which they finally did.

Speaker

Benavidez was in demand as a speaker by United States armed forces, schools, military and civic groups, and private businesses. He also spoke in Greece, Panama, Korea, and Japan, where he visited American military personnel and even joined them on field exercises. He received complimentary letters from students, service members, and private citizens throughout the world.

Author

He wrote three autobiographical books about his life and military experience. In 1986, he published The Three Wars of Roy Benavidez, which described his struggles growing up as a poor Mexican-American orphan, his military training and combat in Vietnam, and the efforts by others to get recognition for his actions in Vietnam.[10] Benavidez later wrote The Last Medal of Honor (Texas: Swan Publishers, 1991) with Pete Billac and Medal of Honor: A Vietnam Warrior's Story in 1995.[11]

In addition to these excellent books, "Legend", a book by New York Times Bestselling author Eric Blehm, was published in 2015 by Crown Publishers, New York. It offers deep insights into and for the actions of Roy Benavidez and those he served with during a moment in time his team referred to as "six hours in hell". "Roy Benavidez is a real badass, a modern day Spartan, the heart of what every warrior prays for when everything goes wrong". - Marcus Luttrell, retired Navy SEAL and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Lone Survivor

Roy Benavidez died on November 29, 1998, at the age of 63 at Brooke Army Medical Center, having suffered respiratory failure and complications of diabetes.[12] His body was escorted to St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, where he had married, where his three children were married, and where he attended Mass every Sunday. His body was then returned to Fort Sam Houston's Main Chapel for a public viewing. Family friend Archbishop Patrick Flores of the Archdiocese of San Antonio presided over a Catholic funeral Mass at San Fernando Cathedral located in San Antonio.

Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez was buried with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Benavidez's military awards include:[13]

Personal decorations Medal of Honor Purple Heart with four Oak Leaf Clusters Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal Army Good Conduct Medal with silver clasp and two loops National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star Korean Service Medal with 1 Campaign star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars NCO Professional Development Ribbon with award numeral 3 Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon United Nations Korea Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960– Device Korean War Service Medal Unit awards Presidential Unit Citation Meritorious Unit Commendation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal with Palm State awards Texas Legislative Medal of Honor

Other accoutrements Combat Infantryman Badge Master Parachutist Badge South Vietnamese Parachutist Badge U.S Army Special Forces Distinctive unit insignia Special Forces Tab United States Army Special Forces CSIB 8 Service stripes 4 Overseas Service Bars

Benavidez' personal honors include:

Roy P. Benavidez Elementary School in Gulfton, Houston, Texas

The Texas National Guard armory in El Campo

USNS Benavidez

• 1981 Texan of the Year
• Honorary Associate in Arts from the New Mexico Military Institute
• Special USPS Pictorial Cancellation Stamp
• Lifetime Achievement Award from St. Mary's University Alumni Law School in San Antonio, Texas
• Listed on the Medal of Honor Memorial in Indianapolis, Indiana
• Listed on The Medal of Honor Memorial at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California
• Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
• G.I. Joe, Roy P. Benavidez Commemorative Edition (first Hispanic to be honored); released August 31, 2001
• Memorial Bench at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Buildings and institutions with Benavidez's name include:

• Roy P. Benavidez-Robert M. Patterson "All Airborne" Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division Association, El Paso, Texas
• Roy P. Benavidez American Legion Post #400 in San Antonio, Texas
• Roy P. Benavidez Army Reserve Center, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas
• Roy P. Benavidez Artillery Training Area 67 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma
• Roy P. Benavidez City Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Roy P. Benavidez Elementary School in Gulfton, Houston, Texas
• Roy P. Benavidez Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas
• Roy P. Benavidez Foundation, Inc.
• Roy P. Benavidez Military Range at Fort Knox, Kentucky
• Roy P. Benavidez National Guard Armory in El Campo, Texas
• Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez Noncommissioned Officer Academy of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, Fort Benning, Georgia
• Roy P. Benavidez Scholarship Fund in El Campo
• Roy P. Benavidez Special Operations Logistic Complex at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
• Roy P. Benavidez Recreation Center in Eagle Pass, Texas

The conference room owned and operated by the Department of Military Instruction at the United States Military Academy is the Benavidez Room. Inside this room are signed pictures of MSG Benavidez, the citation from his Medal of Honor, and a G.I. Joe toy created in his likeness. The room is used primarily for planning Cadet Summer Military Training and hosting visitors.

The USNS Benavidez, a U.S. Navy Bob Hope-class roll on roll off vehicle cargo ship, is named in honor of MSG Benavidez.

Roy Benavidez's Medal of Honor is on display at the Ronald Reagan Library along with a video of him receiving the medal from President Reagan.

The portion of Texas State Highway 71 in Wharton County, Texas, where Benavidez grew up, located between the Colorado County line and FM 2765 is designated the Roy Benavidez Memorial Highway.[14]

There were discussions to rename Fort Hood as Fort Benavidez as part of an ongoing movement to rename installations and institutions originally named for Confederate generals. [15][16][17]

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
• List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients

Footnotes

Citations

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

• "Profiles: Staff Sgt Roy Benavidez". Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Army. U.S. Army. Retrieved March 23, 2010.

• Gilmore, Gerry J. (September 19, 2000). "USNS Benavidez Honors Army Medal of Honor Hero". DefenseLINK News. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on October 28, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2006.

• Benavidez, Roy P. with John R. Craig (1995). Medal of Honor: A Vietnam Warrior's Story. Brassey's Inc. ISBN 0-02-881098-8. LCCN 94027283.

• Benavidez, Roy P. with Pete Billac (1991). The Last Medal of Honor. Swan Publishers. ASIN B000J3KLN4.

• Benavidez, Roy; Griffin, Oscar (1986). The three wars of Roy Benavidez. San Antonio, Texas: Corona Publishing Co. ISBN 0-931722-58-6. LCCN 86070715.

• "A Guide to the Roy P. Benavidez Papers, 1943–2007". The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Roy Benavidez.

• "Biography on Psywarrior site".
• "Handbook of Texas Online".
• "Roy Benavidez." Texas State Cemetery
• "Benavidez' daughter writes about his death from diabetes". Archived from the original on 2006-12-11.
• Elder, Daniel K. "Remarkable Sergeants: Ten Vignettes of Noteworthy NCOs", Center for the Advanced Studies of the US Army Noncommissioned Officer, April 30, 2003. (URL accessed on November 8, 2008).
• "Late sergeant's family donates papers to UT". The Daily Texan.
• "Texas War Hero Roy Benavidez Honored in Exhibit at Center for American History". The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. 11 November 2008.
• "Exhibit honors Texas hero". The Daily Texan.

• "West Point honors EC's fallen hero". El Campo Leader News.