MAY 2, 1968

YAQUI MASTER SERGEANT RAUL “ROY” BENAVIDEZ EARNS MEDAL OF HONOR

Born in Cuero, Texas (TX), August 5, 1935, Roy was a farm worker before joining the Army in 1955. A Special Forces (SF) Staff Sergeant when, on this date, an SF team in Cambodia was attacked by North Vietnamese troops, Roy joined the rescue attempt and, while wounded, brought 8 men to a rescue helicopter. When the helicopter crashed, he formed survivors into a defensive perimeter. Carrying a wounded man, he killed a foe despite being bayonetted. Declared dead & in a body bag, Roy spit at the doctor. For his heroism, Roy received the Distinguished Service Cross. His superiors felt he deserved the Medal of Honor (MOH), but feared he’d die before receiving it. Roy recovered & retired as a Master Sergeant in El Campo, TX. Years later, a former superior pushed for the MOH. It was awarded to Roy in February 1981. Benavidez died November 29, 1998. Named for him are a school, troubled youth boot camp, Logistics Complex at Fort Bragg, the USNS Benavidez, and a Hasbro G.I. Joe action figure.

Source: “Roy Perez Benavidez,” Texas State Cemetery.  Retrieved 1/9/2023, Roy Perez Benavidez [11180] (texas.gov)

Photo:  U.S. Army, undated.  Public Domain.  Source: U.S. Army website: http://www.army.mil/hispanicamericans/english/profiles/benavidez.html