Essay Sample on Heroic Soldier Benavidez: An Unsung Hero of Society

Introduction

Heroes are individuals who give their lives to missions that are bigger than themselves for the good of society. Among heroes who risk their lives for a more substantial course are soldiers; they spend days and nights in the battlefield protecting their country, and sometimes lose their lives in the process. Worse still, some of them do not receive any recognition for their noble actions. Benavidez is among the most recognized American soldiers of all time; for his heroic acts in fighting in the Vietnam War and his participation in local philanthropic projects. Accordingly, Benavidez is remembered for his resiliency by rescuing eight fellow soldiers in the Vietnam War in what is perceived as the six hours in hell, and his persistence to serve in the Special Forces despite sustaining severe injuries in several battlefields.

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Benavidez's Childhood

Benavidez was born in 1935 in Lindenau, Texas. His father was a Mexican American while the mother was a Native American (Mecca, 2019). He lost his parents to tuberculosis before he reached the age of ten. Since Benavidez left with no one to look after him, his uncle and his grandfather raised him alongside his eight cousins in El campo, Texas (Felix, 2019). The low economic status of Benavidez's new family prompted him to spend his early life in beet jobs and other odd jobs to supplement the family's income. Unfortunately, working in the field resulted in Benavidez missing four months of school, which made it difficult for him to catch up when he resumed. Overall, Benavidez led a traumatizing childhood that delayed him from achieving his goals in education.

The shadow of Jim Crow laws characterized Benavidez's childhood. As a result, he would often find signs showing "no Mexicans and blacks," which created a deep resentment for systems in the country. Benavidez's inability to remain in school resulted in him being placed in remedial classes to cover the lessons learned by his mates while he was away (Military Hall of Honor, 2019). As a result, white kids in the school often referred to him as the "dumb Mexican," a phrase that enraged him so much that he often resorted to violence towards such kids, the principle for fighting at school frequently summoned him. Unfortunately, at 15 years, Benavidez dropped from school because of financial difficulties (Mecca, 2019). Dropping out of school was traumatizing for him, and it haunted him for a considerable part of his life. However, he remained aggressive towards his dream of serving in the United States military. Being an orphan, Mexican, and financially depressed hindered Benavidez's best development in the early years and was able to join the military for his career.

Military Career

Benavidez's career in the military started when he was working at a tires shop, shortly after leaving school. While at the shop, he enrolled at the Texas National guard and then graduated to active responsibility in the defense forces of the United States of America. Among his primary duties in the army was a security role in a demilitarized zone after the Korean War, after which he went to Germany for more military responsibilities. During one of the annual leaves, Benavidez married Hiralia Com, with whom he had been in love since the pioneer days in the army (Psywarrior, 2019). He was ambitious about getting his jump wings, a dream that he actualized when promoted as a driver to General Westmoreland. Earning the silver wings was a significant achievement by Benavidez, and it reminded him of paratroopers from World War II that he watched many years back. Benavidez's aggression in the army resulted in quick progression through the ranks.

Fortunately the Vietnam War was a significant turnaround for Benavidez. In October 1964, he was amongst 125000 United States soldiers who went to the Vietnam War (Military Hall of Honor, 2019). Benavidez worked as a military advisor together with other Vietnamese soldiers and helped them in adopting American military approaches. During one of his patrol duties, Benavidez stepped on a landmine and triggered it, sustaining significant injuries that resulted in memory and mobility loss (Military Hall of Honor, 2019). Medicals assessments indicated that he would never walk again, and he was devastated by the idea of spending his entire life in a wheelchair, where he would be unproductive in the military and also burden his family. As a result, Benavidez convinced the doctor in charge to allow him to remain in the army, as he was hopeful about his recovery (Mecca, 2019). Even with the significant transformation due to the accident, Benavidez continued optimistic about his productivity in the army.

During his second tour in Vietnam, MSG Benavidez received a radio call from the reconnaissance team of the Special Forces requesting for the emergency evacuation (Schogol, 2019). Benavidez put his life in the front line as he took a plane to assist in evacuating the victims. On arrival to the area, he jumped off the plane, run under fire and sustained wounds from burns. Even with the injuries on his leg, head and face, he did not give up, he continued to assist his in evacuation and this was a significant act showing his resiliency. He did not get pulled back by the injuries but his determination to assist the casualties made him stand firm and achieved what he wanted. Additionally, as he was trying to recover classified documents from a soldier who was killed, he got more injuries from small weapons in his stomach and also suffered shrapnel from grenade to his back. Having all these injuries, he is still remembered for assisting the wounded officers. His resiliency allowed him to continue offering himself and until when he got critically unwell due to the injuries all over his body and blood loss when he gave in to be removed from the site into the evacuation helicopter.

Sgt. Benavidez's resiliency continues to be seen when he made a heroic choice of joining a voluntary team with his fellow military men who were in critical restrictions to put his life in danger of the withering fire from the enemies. He also refused to be prevented even though he had many injuries. His firm decision was to ensure that he took care of the critical casualties. It was through his resilience that he saved many lives while putting his own at risk. He was brave, a leader to emulate and devoted to his duties. He was also extremely valorous in actions while facing the overwhelming hurdles limiting him due to his military position. His resiliency made him break the traditions of the military to offer himself to serve the people while risking his life.

Despite reports by the doctor that he was not going to be in a position to use his legs again to walk, Benavidez took the matter to himself. While in the ward, he often spent his time practicing how to walk again. In the first try, the experience was unbearably painful, and he only managed a few meters before he got back to bed. Most of the patients in the hospital were permanently paralyzed, but they often cheered him on and encouraged him to try harder (Felix, 2019). Benavidez would use his elbows and chins to support himself on the wall, and then try to raise himself up without aid, which caused him a lot of pain. Within a few months of rigorous practice, Benavidez had made remarkable progress, and the doctors eventually discharged him from the hospital. He walked home beside his wife (Military Hall of Honor, 2019). Benavidez's motivation was resiliency driven as he wanted to walk again with the desire to serve in the army.

Benavidez kept that he wanted to go back to the battlefield in Vietnam after leaving the hospital and dissatisfied with his administrative job. The motivation to actively take part in the army prompted Benavidez to join the Special Forces (Psywarrior, 2019). He spent much time on his physical and mental wellbeing and reciting what he had learned in the military academy. After adequate preparation, Benavidez presented his paperwork and qualified for choice in the Special Forces; and eventually acquired the highly desired Green Beret in 1968 (Felix, 2019). Benavidez deployed on a second tour in Vietnam as a Special Forces agent, where he fought in the raging war. Benavidez reached his satisfaction upon restoration in Vietnam.

The Making of a Legend

May 2, 1968, was a legendary day for Benavidez; during a prayer service on this day, he received a radio plea from soldiers who needed rescuing. The desperate cry came from a team of twelve military men that was serving in a batter field in bushes and attacked by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), west of Loc Ninh (Felix, 2019). Three helicopters had already made attempts to save the team, but they were barred from getting to the scene by anti-craft fire and small arms. Although Benavidez received no orders to participate in the rescue, the plea sounded too desperate, and he opted to go, even though he was only armed with a knife (Psywarrior, 2019). Consequently, the encounter became the most memorable in his entire career in the army.

The situation on the ground was more intense than Benavidez had anticipated. Fire from the enemy prevented the chopper from landing, forcing him to jump off. The team that called for rescue was approximately 75 yards from where he dropped, and he immediately fell after an attack from an AK47 pierce on his leg, and a grenade tore his chest and back (Felix, 2019). Benavidez persisted, unaware that these were only the first wounds among the 37 that he would sustain from shrapnel, guns, and bayonets within the six hours in hell. Benavidez said loud prayers as he moved through the fire towards the 12 men team. Unfortunately, four men were already dead, while the other eight were severely injured (Psywarrior, 2019). Benavidez gave ammo to the men that could still fight; administered morphine to those wounded, wounded, and initiated airstrikes after hit once more. While still bleeding, he dragged the injured and dead men to the chopper before the fire increased, and he could not rescue more. In his injured state, Benavidez insisted on saving his colleagues.

Benavidez made another attempt to save some classified information from their dead team leader. While picking the documents, he sustained more shrapnel fragments at the back and in the stomach and efforts to return to the plane failed as the pilot was injured, and it crashed. He kept urging the bruised soldiers to fight on, although the enemy kept attacking, and he was bleeding too much such that his vision was blurred (Mecca, 2019). When the second chopper arrived, he was too frail, and he carried a colleague on his shoulders towards the plane, only to be attacked before he reached the helicopter (Psywarrior, 2019). Luckily for him, he used his knife to kill the enemy soldier, although his hands were wounded. Regardless of the roughness on the battlefield, Benavidez managed to carry all the injured American soldiers into the Huey.

Although Benavidez managed to leave the battlefield alive, he sustained numerous injuries. As the rescued soldiers pulled him aboard, his blood flowed outside the plane. Throughout the flight, he was bleeding profusely, and by the time the chopper got to Loc Ninh, the doctors believed he was dead. The 6 hours in which the 32-year-old Benavidez took part in the Vietnam War was among the most astonishing episodes (Military Hall of Honor, 2019). Benavidez was hospitalized for an entire year, within which he refused any praise for his noble act, claiming that he was fulfilling his duty. The commander of Benavidez's team had recommended that he receives the Distinguished Service Cross because of his bravery. Today, Benavidez's readiness to lose his life for fellow soldiers still is a legacy.

The story of legislative assembly honor of Honor recipient U.S. Army Master Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez displays identi...