The Congressional account in
the awarding of the Medal of Honor to M. Sgt. Roy P. Benevidez (Deceased),
United States Army Special Forces (5th Special Forces Group), a Vietnam
veteran.
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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 antiaircraft 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.
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Msg. Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez, US Army