Roy Benavidez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roy Benavidez
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Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez c. 1981-1998
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| Born | August 5, 1935 Cuero, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | November 29, 1998 (aged 63) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Buried |
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
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| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1952–1976 |
| Rank | .svg){kind=small} Master Sergeant |
| Unit | 82nd Airborne Division 5th Special Forces Group Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group |
| Battles/wars | Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart (5) Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal Texas Legislative Medal of Honor |
Master Sergeant Raul Perez "Roy" Benavidez (born August 5, 1935 – died November 29, 1998) was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He earned the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military. He received it for his amazing actions during a battle in South Vietnam on May 2, 1968. At the time, he was part of the United States Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War.
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Roy P. Benavidez was born in a small town called Lindenau, near Cuero, Texas. His father was a farmer from Mexico, and his mother was from the Yaqui people.
When Roy was only two years old, his father passed away from a sickness called tuberculosis. Five years later, his mother also died from the same illness. Roy and his younger brother, Roger, then moved to El Campo, Texas. There, their grandfather, uncle, and aunt raised them along with eight cousins.
Roy worked hard from a young age to help his family. He shined shoes at the bus station and worked on farms in California and Washington. He also worked at a tire shop. At 15, he left school to work full-time and support his family.
Joining the Army
Starting His Military Journey
Roy Benavidez joined the Texas Army National Guard in 1952, during the Korean War. In 1955, he moved from the National Guard to active duty in the U.S. Army.
In 1959, he got married to Hilaria Coy Benavidez. He then completed special training to become an Airborne soldier. After this, he joined the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Becoming a Special Forces Soldier
Later, Benavidez returned to Fort Bragg to train for the elite Army Special Forces. These are highly trained soldiers who do very difficult missions. Once he passed the tough training, he became a member of the 5th Special Forces Group. He also joined a secret unit called the Studies and Observations Group (SOG).
Serving in Vietnam
In 1965, Roy was sent to South Vietnam as an advisor to a Vietnamese army group. During his time there, he stepped on a land mine while on patrol. He was badly hurt and sent back to the United States. Doctors at Fort Sam Houston believed he would never walk again. They started preparing papers for him to leave the military because of his injuries.
Roy was determined not to give up. He saw news reports about the war and wanted to return to help his fellow soldiers. Against the doctors' orders, he began to train himself every night. He would crawl to a wall and try to stand up, wiggling his toes and then his feet. With great effort and pain, he slowly regained his ability to walk. Other injured soldiers encouraged him.
After more than a year in the hospital, Roy walked out in July 1966. His wife was by his side. Even though he still felt pain, he was determined to go back to Vietnam. He returned in January 1968.
The "Six Hours in Hell" Battle
On May 2, 1968, a team of 12 Special Forces soldiers, including nine Montagnard tribesmen, was surrounded. They were fighting against about 1,000 enemy soldiers. Roy Benavidez heard their urgent call for help on the radio. He quickly got on a helicopter to go to their rescue.
Roy jumped from the helicopter with only a knife and his medical bag. He ran about 75 meters through heavy enemy gunfire to reach the trapped team. He was shot in his right leg, face, and head before he even got there. Despite his injuries, he took charge. He moved the wounded soldiers to safer spots and told them where to shoot. He threw smoke bombs to guide the helicopter.
Even with his severe wounds, he carried and dragged half of the injured soldiers to the helicopter. He then ran alongside the helicopter, firing his weapon to protect it as it moved to pick up more soldiers. The enemy fire got even stronger. Roy then rushed to get important documents from the dead team leader.
When he reached the leader's body, Roy was shot in the stomach and hit by grenade pieces in his back. At the same time, the helicopter pilot was killed, and the helicopter crashed. Roy was very badly hurt, but he still grabbed the secret documents. He helped the wounded soldiers out of the crashed helicopter. He gathered the survivors into a safe area.
Under constant enemy fire, he moved around, giving water and ammunition to his tired men. He helped them find the will to keep fighting. With many enemies closing in, Roy found strength to call for air support. He directed gunships to fire at the enemy, hoping to allow another helicopter to land.
He was shot again in his thigh while giving first aid to a wounded soldier. This happened just before another helicopter landed. His amazing spirit kept him going as he carried his comrades to the aircraft. On his second trip with the wounded, an enemy soldier hit him from behind. Roy fought back, killing the soldier, but he got more wounds to his head and arms. He kept carrying the wounded to the helicopter.
When he reached the helicopter, he saw two enemy soldiers rushing towards it. He quickly shot and killed them, saving the helicopter and the people inside. With very little strength left, he made one last trip to the perimeter. He wanted to make sure all secret materials were collected or destroyed. He also brought in the last wounded soldiers.
Only then, in a very serious condition from many wounds and a lot of blood loss, did he allow himself to be pulled into the helicopter. Roy Benavidez's brave choice to help his friends, his constant exposure to enemy fire, and his refusal to stop despite many severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless leadership and brave actions showed the highest traditions of military service.
After the battle, Roy was taken to the base camp. He was examined and thought to be dead. As he was being placed in a body bag, a friend recognized him and called for help. A doctor checked him but still thought he was dead. Just as the doctor was about to close the body bag, Roy managed to spit in his face. This showed the doctor he was alive! Roy had a total of 37 separate wounds from bullets, bayonets, and shrapnel during the six-hour fight.
Roy was sent back to Fort Sam Houston's Brooke Army Medical Center to recover. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for his amazing heroism and four Purple Heart medals.
Receiving the Medal of Honor
In 1973, more details about Roy's actions became known. A Special Forces officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph R. Drake, believed Roy deserved the Medal of Honor. However, the time limit for awarding the medal had passed. They asked Congress for an exception for Roy, which they got. But the Army Decorations Board still said no to upgrading his Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor.
The Army board needed an eyewitness account from someone who was there during the battle. Roy thought there were no living witnesses to the "Six Hours in Hell."
But there was a living witness! His name was Brian O'Connor. He was the radio operator for Roy's Special Forces team in Vietnam. O'Connor had been badly wounded (Roy thought he was dead) and was sent back to the U.S. before he could tell his full story.
O'Connor was living in the Fiji Islands when he read a newspaper story about Roy in 1980. The story had been printed in Australia. O'Connor immediately contacted Roy. He wrote a ten-page report of what he saw, confirming the other accounts. This was the eyewitness account needed. Because of this, Roy's Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
On February 24, 1981, President Ronald Reagan presented Roy P. Benavidez with the Medal of Honor at the Pentagon. President Reagan told the press, "If the story of his heroism were a movie script, you would not believe it." He then read the official award description.
Here is a summary of the Medal of Honor description: Roy Benavidez was a Master Sergeant in the 5th Special Forces Group. On May 2, 1968, a 12-man team was dropped into a dense jungle in Vietnam. This area was controlled by the enemy. The team quickly faced heavy enemy fire and asked for help. Three helicopters tried to pick them up but couldn't land due to intense gunfire.
Sergeant Benavidez was at the base, listening to the radio. When the helicopters returned with wounded crew members, he bravely volunteered to go back with them. He knew the team members on the ground were either dead or wounded. He directed the helicopter to a clearing and jumped out. He ran 75 meters under heavy fire to reach the team.
He was wounded in his leg, face, and head. But he took charge, moving the team members and directing their fire. He threw smoke bombs to guide the helicopter. Despite his wounds, he carried and dragged half of the wounded to the aircraft. He also provided cover fire as the helicopter moved. He then went to get important documents from the dead team leader.
While doing this, he was severely wounded in his stomach and back. The helicopter pilot was also killed, and the helicopter crashed. Even in critical condition, Sergeant Benavidez secured the documents. He helped the wounded out of the crashed aircraft and gathered the survivors. He moved around, giving water and ammunition to his men, giving them hope.
He called for air strikes and directed gunships to suppress the enemy fire. This allowed another helicopter to attempt a rescue. He was wounded again while giving first aid. He continued to carry his comrades to the helicopter. An enemy soldier attacked him, but he fought back and killed the soldier, getting more wounds. He kept carrying the wounded.
He then spotted two enemy soldiers rushing the helicopter and killed them. With little strength left, he made one last trip to ensure all secret materials were gone and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, seriously wounded and losing blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the helicopter. His brave actions saved at least eight lives. His leadership and courage were truly outstanding.
Life After the Military
In 1976, Roy Benavidez, his wife, and their three children moved back home to El Campo, Texas. He spent the rest of his life talking to young people across America. He taught them how important it was to stay in school and get an education. His simple message was: "An education is the key to success. Bad habits and bad company will ruin you."
In 1983, Roy told the news that the Social Security Administration planned to stop disability payments for him and thousands of other veterans. He went to Washington D.C. and asked a special committee in Congress to change their plans. They eventually did.
Roy Benavidez was a popular speaker for the U.S. armed forces, schools, and other groups. He also spoke in other countries like Greece, Panama, Korea, and Japan. He visited American soldiers and even joined them in training exercises. He received many letters from students, soldiers, and people all over the world.
He wrote three books about his life and military experiences. In 1986, he published The Three Wars of Roy Benavidez. This book described his tough childhood as a poor Mexican-American orphan. It also covered his military training, his combat in Vietnam, and the efforts to get him recognition for his bravery. He later wrote The Last Medal of Honor (1991) and Medal of Honor: A Vietnam Warrior's Story (1995).
His Passing
Roy Benavidez passed away on November 29, 1998, at the age of 63. He died from breathing problems and complications from diabetes. His body was taken to the church where he was married and where his children were married. His funeral was held at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio.
Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez was buried with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Military Awards and Honors
Roy Benavidez received many military awards, including:
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Roy Benavidez has been honored in many ways:
- In 1981, he was named Texan of the Year.
- He received an Honorary Associate in Arts from the New Mexico Military Institute.
- The USPS created a special stamp cancellation in his honor.
- He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from St. Mary's University Alumni Law School in San Antonio, Texas.
- His name is on the Medal of Honor Memorials in Indianapolis, Indiana and at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.
- He received the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.
- A special G.I. Joe action figure, the Roy P. Benavidez Commemorative Edition, was released in 2001. He was the first Hispanic person to be honored this way.
- There is a memorial bench at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Many buildings and places are named after Roy P. Benavidez:
- The Roy P. Benavidez-Robert M. Patterson "All Airborne" Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association in El Paso, Texas.
- The Roy P. Benavidez American Legion Post #400 in San Antonio, Texas.
- The Roy P. Benavidez Army Reserve Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
- Artillery Training Area 67 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma is named after him.
- Roy P. Benavidez City Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
- There are Roy P. Benavidez Elementary Schools in Gulfton, Houston, Texas and in San Antonio, Texas.
- The Roy P. Benavidez Foundation, Inc.
- The Roy P. Benavidez Military Range at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
- The Roy P. Benavidez National Guard armory in El Campo, Texas.
- The Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Fort Benning, Georgia.
- The Roy P. Benavidez Scholarship Fund in El Campo.
- The Roy P. Benavidez Special Operations Logistic Complex at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
- The Roy P. Benavidez Recreation Center in Eagle Pass, Texas.
The conference room at the United States Military Academy, used for planning and visitors, is called the "Benavidez Room." It has signed pictures of him, his Medal of Honor description, and a G.I. Joe toy made in his likeness.
The USNS Benavidez, a large cargo ship of the U.S. Navy, is named in his honor.
Roy Benavidez's Medal of Honor is on display at the Ronald Reagan Library. There is also a video of him receiving the medal from President Reagan.
As of November 2020, there are talks about renaming Fort Hood to Fort Benavidez. This is part of a bigger effort to rename military bases that were originally named after Confederate generals.
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