Benavidez included with permission from the estate of roy p. Staff sergeant benavidez could only hear what was going on around him. I am pleased to announce that the second edition of my book is available at. Benavidez recalled mousseaus last minutes in his book the three wars of roy benavidez. The last third of the book will keep you reading until the end. Sea trials of usns benavidez takr306 by northrop grumman ship. 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. His story is finally being told in the book legend by eric blehm.
This page is intended to update his family, friends, and the. On one fateful day in vietnam, master sergeant roy benavidez became a special operations legend with actions that ultimately resulted in him. One mans journey from poverty and prejudice memories of war mass market paperback. Reading it a second and third time, i swear everything just a little background for this book. Roy benavidez lubbock mass services for roy benavidez, 38, of lubbock will be 10 a. One mans journey from poverty and prejudice by benavidez, roy p. 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. 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. Raul perez roy benavidez was born on august 5 th, 1935, near cuero, texas. Benavidez was orphaned as a child and raised by an uncle. New graphic novel features vietnam special forces hero ausa. 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. 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. This is a great read with a lot of detail of the actual events.
Roy perez benavidez 11180 theres also a book out about the man. From migrant farmworker and middleschool dropout to recipient of his countrys highest award for bravery, roy benavidez demonstrated the courage and fortitude of an. The incredible story of green beret sergeant roy benavidez s heroic mission to rescue a special forces team caught behind enemy lines. A vietnam warriors story, and the three wars of roy benavidez, and more on. Roy benavidez obituary lubbock, tx lubbock avalanche. He had 37 wounds from bullets, bayonets, and shrapnel. He was the son of a sharecropper and endured much racism in his life because of his mixed yaqui indian and mexican heritage.
Robert belleramines catholic church, where he had married, where his three children were married, and where he worshipped every sunday. Jan 28, 20 the following video was sent to me by a fellow vietnam veteran. This page is intended to update his family, friends, and the public on roys continued service and honors. Roy benavidez obituary lubbock, tx lubbock avalanchejournal. 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. 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. The book every american should read vietnam now available in trade paperback. Til of medal of honor recipient, master sergeant roy benavidez. Master sergeant raul perez roy benavidez aka tango mike mike become a simple history. 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. This is the story of one man who survived six hours in hell and rescued his comrades against overwhelming forces in the vietnam war. Roy s radio call handle was tangomikemike tmm which stands for a term of both teasing and respect. Minutes away from the doctors in saigon, i felt his fingers dig into my palm, his arm twitching and jumping as if an electric.
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. A vietnam warriors story by roy perez benavidez, roy p. While this book does place the battle in a historical context a good portion of the book is recreating what happened during the battle. Even before he earned his green beret, benavidez showed uncommon courage and determination. Four of the soldiers were already dead, the other eight were all wounded and pinned down in two groups. The major portion of the book is devoted to benavidezs two tours in vietnam with the special forces, both ending with nearfatal wounds. Fred zabitosky, walter shumate, jon cavaiani, roy benavidez, norm doney and robert howard. Excellently written book of the last medal of honor recipient at that time of the viet nam war. The ausa book program will release its second digital graphic novel in may, titled 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.
My eyes were shut because i had blood all over my face. Remembering roy benavidez, an unknown legend of the vietnam war biographile and if youre in austin, tx you can do some extensive reading. The extraordinary story of medal of honor recipient roy benavidez. Here is the powerful story of one mans fight against bigotry, paralysis and his war enemy that led to the medal of honor. Maybe we can turn out some more americans like msg benavidez. Find roy benavidezs phone number, address, and email on spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. 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.
Benavidez insight into and savvy about all things military are impressive. The green beret who went on a one man rampage to save his. I knew about green beret medic roy benavidez, but i never knew the details of his unbelievable valor in combat. This is a book of quotations by and about noncommissioned officers, and spans centuries of the armys experience in peace and war. Roy benavidez is a real badass, a modern day spartan, the heart of what every warrior prays for when everything goes wrong. It should wrap, then the bar will grow in height if more space is needed. It was a pleasure to meet msg benavidez and capture this memorable occasion on video. 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 perez benavidez 19351998 roy perez benavidez was born in cuero, texas, on august 5, 1935. The original copy of this book is locked safely away and inside the cover is a signed message by roy p. 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. Special operations soldiers, sailors, and airmen during three wars world war ii, korea, and vietnamincluding the men of.
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. Benavidez united states army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on. Thought to be dead, he spit in the face of a doctor who was zipping him up in a body bag. Green beret roy benavidez was wounded 30 times, saved 8 men and was brought home in a body bag. Please take a couple of minutes to learn about a real american hero. 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. Say what you will about the vietnam conflict, but any such scrap yields both villains and heroes. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids.
Roy benavidez is the subject of the association of the u. 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. Known for his courageous rampage against the north vietnamese army in may roy p. While this book does place the battle in a historical context a good portion of the book. Benevidez story gives an incredible insight into his life from humble beginnings as a. 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. 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.
His descriptions of war are compelling, his heroism unquestionable, his prose style forgivable. Raul roy perez benavidez august 5, 1935 november 29, 1998 was a member of the studies and observations group of the united states army. 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. He received the medal of honor for his actions in combat near l. The blackboard footer will center if disclaimer is not being used and the background will be one color.
Benavidez is a legend in the special forces community. 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. 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. Roy benavidez, age 63, died on 29 november 1998, at brooke army medical center, after suffering respiratory failure from the complications of diabetes. Both parents died of tuberculosis before his eighth birthday. 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. Master sergeant raul perez roy benavidez august 5, 1935 november 29, 1998 was a. Having read this book the first time, i was fascinated. Msg roy benavidez, my lt and me article stirs memories. Macvs studies and observations group was once so secret that the u. Benavidez special operations logistic complex at fort bragg, nc.
Roys radio call handle was tangomikemike tmm which stands for a. 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. He wrote three autobiographical books about his life and military experience. 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. Clearly depicted is his characterhumble, loyal, and persevering. He had 37 puncture wounds, exposed intestine, broken jaw, and eyes caked in blood.
He was the son of salvador benavidez, a farmer, and teresa perez, a yaqui indian. Roy benavidezs phone number, email, address spokeo. 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. What msg roy benavidez did to receive the medal of honor. The extraordinary story of medal of honor recipient roy. He was pronounced dead until he spit in the face of a doctor who was zipping him up in a body bag. Roy s widow and children sign autographs for the latest book written about him, legend.
Mar 30, 2012 roy benavidez lubbock mass services for roy benavidez, 38, of lubbock will be 10 a. Til of medal of honor recipient, master sergeant roy. 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 elementary school in san antonio, tx roy p. Master sergeant raul perez roy benavidez medal of honor recipient and green beret. 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. The paperback of the the three wars of roy benavidez by roy p. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Roy benavidez speech detailing the story behind his. The blackboard footer will center if disclaimer is not being used and the.
Roy benavidez was born in 1935 near cuero, texas, to impoverished sharecroppers of mexican and yaqui indian ancestry. Roy benavidez on the floor of a medevac helicopter just minutes from the hospital in saigon. Chilling account of the battle that earned master sgt. Benavidez center is flanked by united states secretary of defense caspar weinberger left and president ronald reagan. Roy benavidez speech detailing the story behind his medal. Roy benavidez was born in 1935 near cuero, texas, to impoverished. Benavidez, hero of the vietnam war, awarded the medal of honor for a series of daring and extremely glorious actions.
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