Posted on Aug 11, 2017
SPC David S.
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The US Special Forces have a phrase that's spoken over the radio when a firefight is going badly or when courage needs to be summoned. They call out - tango mike mike. If you every heard this you were more than likely in the hurt and know this - however this is the history behind its meaning.

http://www.garfieldsteamhouse.org/History/Vietnam/TangoMikeMike-RoyBenavidez.php
Edited 8 y ago
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LTC Jeff Shearer
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David I put in many years as an SF guy and MSG Roy Benavidez has been at the top of my hero list the entire time. I have no idea how many times I have read his MOH award citation. I am so humbled to know I served in the same Army but I am so proud because I served in the same Army.
A true hero
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
7 y
LTC Jeff Shearer - I know a number of guys from 20th that were KIA - but I knew Chris from when we were just kids - that one hurt. Still talk to his sister from time to time via Facebook.
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LTC Jeff Shearer
LTC Jeff Shearer
7 y
wow David, Chris was a 20+ year friend of mine. We met when I was a 2LT and he was a CPL. He had just finished the SFQC and was very young. Chris was one of the best Special Forces Communications guys I have ever met. David I was the BN S3 when he was KIA and I was crushed. Man sorry for dumping all that on you but I guess I needed to tell you.
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1LT Voyle Smith
1LT Voyle Smith
>1 y
There’s a little beer joint on the edge of Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio called “The Drop Zone” where Roy and his buds would gather after duty hours to tell their tales to strangers. The walls of that place are covered in photos of Roy and his friends knocking back a few. I and a few of my friends would meet there once each month to raise a glass to Roy and his memory. The problems with trying to make a film of his exploits is first, the storyline would seem unbelievable and second is finding someone willing to risk his life to make the action credibile.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
>1 y
LTC Jeff Shearer - No need to apologize. That's what makes the military community great at times. Being able to share details which help others fill in the blanks. I was in the same BN as Chris's father and we would all go for runs in our boots around the neighborhood. I made a trip down to MS to pay my respects and to have one last beer together. Truly a great guy.
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LTC Owner
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Amazing story. I am humbled by the heroic and courageous actions of some truly great Americans.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
8 y
Yes I think most people would be timid jumping from 10 feet. I'd like to see his story put to film.
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LTC Owner
LTC (Join to see)
8 y
SPC David S. - There are a lot of good stories out there that should be made into movies.
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LTC Jeff Shearer
LTC Jeff Shearer
8 y
SPC David S. - David I could not agree more, the whole thing, not just the MOH part.
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LTC Psychological Operations Officer
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Great video. Got goosebumps watching it. What an amazing hero.
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PFC Mobile Gun System (Mgs) Gunner
PFC (Join to see)
8 y
There is no words to say this video just explains itself awesome all I can say.
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What are the origins of - tango mike mike?
SGT English/Language Arts Teacher
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President Reagan was right. Unbelievable!!!
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PFC Roger Goff
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https://youtu.be/w5yJKzEzX54

Ronald Reagan presents the CMOH to MSG Roy Benavidez. SPC David S.
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Col Phil Yasuhara
Col Phil Yasuhara
8 y
In small measure, the thanks our Vietnam vets never got when they got home.
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PFC Mobile Gun System (Mgs) Gunner
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
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Thank you for the great video share and article.
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SSgt Owner/Operator
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Hats off to a war hero. He is not a hero because he was in a war. He is a hero because he did not give up. I never knew he existed until this post brought him up. Semper Fi!
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
8 y
Its seems so very typical of MoH individuals - very humble about their rather extraordinary actions in such adverse conditions. You hear comments like "Just doing what I was trained to do".
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SSgt Owner/Operator
SSgt (Join to see)
8 y
Absolutely true. The 2 MOH personnel I have met were the same.
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LTC Jeff Shearer
LTC Jeff Shearer
8 y
SSG Barrows, the majority of people would have quit and died, it was not that he was bigger or meaner than anyone else but he had a mission and was not going to stop until it was done. DOL, Semper Fi!
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SPC Anthony Schepis
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What a beast, time to make a movie about him.
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
8 y
Yeah - I think Tango Mike Mike would be a fitting title.
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SMSgt Thor Merich
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I had heard the story of SFC Benavidez before, but I have never heard of the Tango Mike Mike portion of the story. Thanks for sharing.
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LTC Jeff Shearer
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Sorry I have gotten off on somewhat of a TBI rant with this.
To many of our Nation have the wrong Idea of what a hero is. Its not some jackass who works 6 months a year in DC and thinks they have it hard. Its not some jackass who will not stand for the National Anthem, its great warriors like the MSG. I am going to stop here before I offend everyone including myself.
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LTC Jeff Shearer
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Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. 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. On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant Benavidez' gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.
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PFC Roger Goff
PFC Roger Goff
8 y
That Mean Mexican indeed! Thank you for sharing the wording from his CMOH! I don't have the words to properly honor this true American hero.
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Mark Heick
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Why does it sometimes take a while for medals to be awarded, sometimes decades?
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Mark Heick
Mark Heick
8 y
Appreciate your service Jeff.
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LTC Jeff Shearer
LTC Jeff Shearer
8 y
thanks Mark
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Col Phil Yasuhara
Col Phil Yasuhara
8 y
There is also the matter of confirming facts usually lost in the fog of war.
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Mark Heick
Mark Heick
8 y
Thank you @col phil Yasuhara.
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SFC George Sease
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This is a great article. Thank you for sharing it. I learned something new. Rest In Peace Master Sargent and thank you.
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MSG Frederick Otero
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A TRUE WARRIOR.
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A1C Allen Coons
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Just read a brief synopsis of Roy Benavidez. WOW! Nobody would believe it if this were a Hollywierd script. I am in awe of this man's courage and determination of spirit in the face of odds that a lesser man would have succumbed to. Makes me proud to be an American. He couldn't have done what he did if he were not a Proud American! Descansa en paz, Sargento Benavidez. ¡Dios te bendiga!
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1LT Voyle Smith
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MSG Benavidez was some piece of work! He just wasn’t going down, no matter how much lead and steel the commies filled him with. His hometown of Cuero, Texas is famous for him and turkeys; the local farmers produce lots of big fat turkeys. (The town’s name is pronounced “kwerow” if anyone is interested; it’s about 100 miles SE of San Antonio on US 87, and about 20 miles north of the missus’
family ranch.)
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MSgt Jim Ratliff
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A long while ago I used to be in the SecDef and CJCS office. We have a small elevator going to the garage and on the wall was a photo of him and the commendation. I always liked the idea that every time we left they would see an honest hero.
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SSG Edward Tilton
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If he was still alive we could deport him
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MSgt Jim Ratliff
MSgt Jim Ratliff
8 y
Kinda hard to considering he was an American citizen. Maybe you don't know how that works.
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SFC Jim Ruether
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Roy Benevidez call sign was Tango Mike Mike
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
8 y
"That Mean Mexican"
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Mark Heick
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What a display of loyalty, courage, and bravery.
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SGT David T.
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This is the first time I heard this story. Thank you fort sharing, this guy was a total bad ass!
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SPC David S.
SPC David S.
8 y
Funny you should say that - this picture I posted came up in a Google image search for 'badass'
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