Mar 30, 2012 roy benavidez lubbock mass services for roy benavidez, 38, of lubbock will be 10 a. Benavidez elementary school in san antonio, tx roy p. Having read this book the first time, i was fascinated. The extraordinary story of medal of honor recipient roy. Roy perez benavidez 11180 theres also a book out about the man. Born in 1935 in the rural texas town of lindenau, he was the child of a mexicanamerican farmer father and a mother who was a yaqui native american. The major portion of the book is devoted to benavidezs two tours in vietnam with the special forces, both ending with nearfatal wounds. Say what you will about the vietnam conflict, but any such scrap yields both villains and heroes. Written with extensive access to family members, surviving members of the 240th assault helicopter company, ontheground eyewitness accounts never before published, as well as recently discovered archival, and declassified military records, blehm has created a riveting narrative both of roy benavidez s life and career, and of the inspiring, almost unbelievable events that defined the brotherhood of the air and ground warriors in an unpopular war halfway around the world. In 1981, president ronald reagan presented benavidez with the militarys highest award, the medal of honor, for his actions in combat in south vietnam on may 2, 1968.
New graphic novel features vietnam special forces hero ausa. My eyes were shut because i had blood all over my face. Even before he earned his green beret, benavidez showed uncommon courage and determination. Clearly depicted is his characterhumble, loyal, and persevering. Roy benavidez lubbock mass services for roy benavidez, 38, of lubbock will be 10 a.
Roy was quoted in the book, that day was filled with heroes, all trying very hard to save this team, unfortunately, many of them did not survive the battle. Four of the soldiers were already dead, the other eight were all wounded and pinned down in two groups. Roy benavidez obituary lubbock, tx lubbock avalanchejournal. He wrote three autobiographical books about his life and military experience. One mans journey from poverty and prejudice memories of war mass market paperback.
On may 2, 1968, a 12man special forces reconnaissance team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of loc ninh, vietnam. Benavidez papers contain correspondence, photographs, topical files, military documents, honors and awards, writings, printed material, lp albums, and memorabilia documenting his career in the united states army and his receipt of the congressional medal of honor for his service in the vietnam war. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. He was the son of salvador benavidez, a farmer, and teresa perez, a yaqui indian.
Roys radio call handle was tangomikemike tmm which stands for a. Jun 01, 2017 this is a vintage video by drew losch of roy benavidez speaking at our annual soldier of the year awards ceremony in cleveland, ohio back in 1991 when desert storm was about to take place. Roy benavidez vietnam war medal of honor recipient master sergeant raul roy perez benavidez was a member of the studies and observation group of the us army. Both parents died of tuberculosis before his eighth birthday. Roy benavidez, age 63, died on 29 november 1998, at brooke army medical center, after suffering respiratory failure from the complications of diabetes. Benavidez was orphaned as a child and raised by an uncle. He had 37 puncture wounds, exposed intestine, broken jaw, and eyes caked in blood.
This is the story of one man who survived six hours in hell and rescued his comrades against overwhelming forces in the vietnam war. Benavidez saved a special forces unit in vietnam in spite of a broken jaw, 37 bullet wounds and bayonet puncture wounds while assigned to detachment b56, 5th special forces group. The ausa book program will release its second digital graphic novel in may, titled medal of honor. Dec 01, 2018 this is the story of one man who survived six hours in hell and rescued his comrades against overwhelming forces in the vietnam war. Green beret roy benavidez was wounded 30 times, saved 8 men and was brought home in a body bag. His story is finally being told in the book legend by eric blehm. Benavidez, hero of the vietnam war, awarded the medal of honor for a series of daring and extremely glorious actions. Fred zabitosky, walter shumate, jon cavaiani, roy benavidez, norm doney and robert howard. And one of my buddies was doing the mexican hat dance and he was yelling at the doctor, thats roy, thats roy benavidez. Remembering roy benavidez, an unknown legend of the vietnam war biographile and if youre in austin, tx you can do some extensive reading. One mans journey from poverty and prejudice by benavidez, roy p. The last third of the book will keep you reading until the end. The three wars of roy benavidez is a story of the korean war, the vietnam war and the personal war for recognition experienced by roy perez benavidez, american hero. Roy benavidez was born in 1935 near cuero, texas, to impoverished.
Master sergeant raul perez roy benavidez medal of honor recipient and green beret. This page is intended to update his family, friends, and the public on roys continued service and honors. Reading it a second and third time, i swear everything just a little background for this book. The blackboard footer will center if disclaimer is not being used and the background will be one color. While this book does place the battle in a historical context a good portion of the book. He was pronounced dead until he spit in the face of a doctor who was zipping him up in a body bag. Til of medal of honor recipient, master sergeant roy. From migrant farmworker and middleschool dropout to recipient of his countrys highest award for bravery, roy benavidez demonstrated the courage and fortitude of an. Roy benavidez was born in 1935 near cuero, texas, to impoverished sharecroppers of mexican and yaqui indian ancestry. A vietnam warriors story by roy perez benavidez, roy p. Sea trials of usns benavidez takr306 by northrop grumman ship. Find roy benavidezs phone number, address, and email on spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. This is a vintage video by drew losch of roy benavidez speaking at our annual soldier of the year awards ceremony in cleveland, ohio back in 1991 when desert storm was about to take place.
Roy benavidez bound their wounds, injected morphine and, ignoring nva bullets and grenades, passed around ammunition that he had taken from several bodies and armed himself with an ak47. While this book does place the battle in a historical context a good portion of the book is recreating what happened during the battle. Roy perez benavidez 19351998 roy perez benavidez was born in cuero, texas, on august 5, 1935. In 1965 msg benavidez was deployed to south vietnam while on patrol, msg benavidez stepped on a land mine and was evacuated to the us army doctors told msg benavidez that he would never walk again and began his discharge papers. This page is intended to update his family, friends, and the. The paperback of the the three wars of roy benavidez by roy p.
Benavidez center is flanked by united states secretary of defense caspar weinberger left and president ronald reagan. Roy benavidez obituary lubbock, tx lubbock avalanche. Staff sergeant benavidez could only hear what was going on around him. Benevidez story gives an incredible insight into his life from humble beginnings as a. 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. Master sergeant raul perez roy benavidez august 5, 1935 november 29, 1998 was a. Raul roy perez benavidez august 5, 1935 november 29, 1998 was a member of the studies and observations group of the united states army. On one fateful day in vietnam, master sergeant roy benavidez became a special operations legend with actions that ultimately resulted in him. Benavidez special operations logistic complex at fort bragg, nc. He was the son of a sharecropper and endured much racism in his life because of his mixed yaqui indian and mexican heritage. Benavidez and the men of the 240th assault helicopter company that rescued him and what was left of a 12man special forces team, were forever linked in the annals of history.
His descriptions of war are compelling, his heroism unquestionable, his prose style forgivable. The extraordinary story of medal of honor recipient roy benavidez. Master sergeant raul perez roy benavidez aka tango mike mike become a simple history. Known for his courageous rampage against the north vietnamese army in may roy p. Msg roy benavidez, my lt and me article stirs memories. Roy benavidezs phone number, email, address spokeo. On one fateful day in vietnam, master sergeant roy benavidez became a special operations legend with actions that ultimately resulted in him receiving the medal of honor.
I was determined to keep my life focused and disciplined so that i could continue to serve my country and honor all those soldiers who had died that others might be free. What msg roy benavidez did to receive the medal of honor. The original copy of this book is locked safely away and inside the cover is a signed message by roy p. Roy benavidez is the subject of the association of the u. This is a book of quotations by and about noncommissioned officers, and spans centuries of the armys experience in peace and war. Benavidez included with permission from the estate of roy p. The green beret who went on a one man rampage to save his. Benavidez, a former green beret sergeant who received the medal of honor from president ronald reagan for heroism while wounded in the vietnam war, then fought to keep the government from. Roy benavidez speech detailing the story behind his medal. It was a pleasure to meet msg benavidez and capture this memorable occasion on video. False 2 the continental congress in 1775 still professed loyalty to george iii, sending him the olive branch petition, which sought a ceasefire while negotiations took place. Til of medal of honor recipient, master sergeant roy benavidez.
Please take a couple of minutes to learn about a real american hero. Benavidez insight into and savvy about all things military are impressive. A vietnam warriors story, and the three wars of roy benavidez, and more on. Thought to be dead, he spit in the face of a doctor who was zipping him up in a body bag. He received the medal of honor for his actions in combat near l. Benavidez united states army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on. In 1986, he published the three wars of roy benavidez, which described his struggles growing up as a poor mexicanamerican orphan, his military training and combat in vietnam, and the efforts by others to get recognition for his actions in vietnam. Roy s widow and children sign autographs for the latest book written about him, legend. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site.
Benavidez is a legend in the special forces community. The incredible story of green beret sergeant roy benavidez s heroic mission to rescue a special forces team caught behind enemy lines. I am pleased to announce that the second edition of my book is available at. Minutes away from the doctors in saigon, i felt his fingers dig into my palm, his arm twitching and jumping as if an electric.
Sergeant roy benavidez volunteered to help rescue the men only to be seriously wounded and belatedly awarded the congressional medal of honor for his actions. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Raul perez roy benavidez was born on august 5 th, 1935, near cuero, texas. Roy benavidez is a real badass, a modern day spartan, the heart of what every warrior prays for when everything goes wrong. Macvs studies and observations group was once so secret that the u. The book every american should read vietnam now available in trade paperback. Mar 25, 2019 on one fateful day in vietnam, master sergeant roy benavidez became a special operations legend with actions that ultimately resulted in him receiving the medal of honor. Roy s radio call handle was tangomikemike tmm which stands for a term of both teasing and respect. He is a throwback to the days of redblooded patriotism, and he was a first. Roy benavidez on the floor of a medevac helicopter just minutes from the hospital in saigon.
Roy benavidez speech detailing the story behind his. Here is the powerful story of one mans fight against bigotry, paralysis and his war enemy that led to the medal of honor. The authors three wars were growing up a mexicanamerican, fighting in vietnam and convincing the government to give him his medal of honor. Chilling account of the battle that earned master sgt. It should wrap, then the bar will grow in height if more space is needed. Jan 28, 20 the following video was sent to me by a fellow vietnam veteran. If you would like to learn more about master sergeant roy benavidezs life, before, during and after the vietnam war, i recommend his two autobiographical books. Master sergeant raul perez roy benavidez august 5, 1935 november 29, 1998 was a member of the united states army special forces studies and observations group and retired united states army master sergeant who received the medal of honor for his valorous actions in combat near l. Benavidez recalled mousseaus last minutes in his book the three wars of roy benavidez. This is a great read with a lot of detail of the actual events. In 1965 msg benavidez was deployed to south vietnam while on patrol, msg benavidez stepped on a land mine and was evacuated to the us army doctors told msg benavidez that he would never walk again and began his discharge papers however, inspired by social criticism of the.
500 1384 941 1576 1309 885 1063 625 201 176 1338 1144 532 317 1611 1111 428 978 1232 882 1667 953 1036 560 500 496 1038 1460 125 118 820 459 579 579 98