Roy P. Benavidez: Warrior

Author: Roy Cook

Created: 20 July, 2012

Updated: 13 September, 2023

2 min read

Benavidez_MOHceremony — Roy Benavidez Medal of Honor presentation ceremony.
Caption: Army Master Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez (center) is flanked by Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger (left) and USAF SSgt(Retired) Miguel Marquez (rear), and President Ronald Reagan at his Medal of Honor presentation ceremony in 1981. The Special Forces soldier was cited for heroism in Vietnam in 1968.

Tango Mike Mike is the written story by Roy P. Benavidez and John R. Craig. This is the story of Green Beret Roy P. Benavidez and his heroic action in Vietnam that earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor.

He is an American Indian Warrior of Yaqui and Hispanic heritage. His mother was Teresa Perez, Yaqui. His father, Salvador Benavidez Jr., was Hispanic. Roy Benavidez circumstances of life left him as an orphan at 10 years of age. He then fought his way out of poverty and bigotry to serve with the U.S. Army’s elite—the Airborne paratroopers and the Special Forces Green Berets.

He was seriously wounded in Vietnam on his first tour and he was told he would never walk again. Benavidez not only conquered his wounds and disability but demanded to return to combat. His story is truly amazing and is a tribute to all the Vietnam Vets whose stories haven’t been told. Tango Mike Mike stands for: That Means Mexican!

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On his second tour, when twelve of his comrades on a secret CIA mission in Cambodia were surrounded by hundreds of North Vietnamese regulars, Benavidez volunteered to rescue them. Despite severe injuries suffered in hand-to-hand combat, Ben-avidez personally saved eight men. His actions ensured his everlasting place as one of the great American Indian heroes of the Vietnam War. In February 1981, President Reagan awarded him the Medal of Honor.

Roy P. Benavidez, a former Green Beret sergeant who received the Medal of Honor from President Ronald Reagan then fought to keep the same US Government from cutting off his disability payments, died December 1998 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. He was 63.

Mr. Benavidez, who lived in El Campo, Tex., suffered respiratory failure, the hospital said. His right leg was amputated in October because of complications of diabetes.

Green Beret master sergeant Roy Benavidez, while alive, was often invited to speak to youth and fraternal groups. Enjoy this video of his inspiring thoughts and his attitude toward life.