Moments That Defined Military Leadership: Roy Benavidez

On May 2, 1968, a U.S. Army Special Forces reconnaissance team from MACV-SOG was operating deep in enemy-controlled territory in Cambodia. The team was compromised and quickly surrounded by a larger North Vietnamese force. Communications were intermittent. Extraction attempts were failing. Casualties were increasing.
At a forward operating base, Roy Benavidez, a Special Forces staff sergeant, monitored the radio traffic. He was not assigned to the mission. He was not on standby. He had no command role in the operation.
What he did have was situational awareness and a clear understanding of what would happen if no one intervened. When a rescue helicopter attempted to extract the team and was struck by enemy fire, Benavidez made a decision that was not part of the plan.
He grabbed a medical bag, boarded the next available helicopter, and inserted himself into an active firefight. According to official Army records, he did so on his own initiative. There is no documentation of formal orders directing his actions.
Once on the ground, Benavidez moved repeatedly through intense enemy fire to reach wounded team members. He administered medical aid, redistributed ammunition, and helped organize evacuation efforts. Over several hours, he sustained multiple gunshot wounds, shrapnel injuries, and bayonet wounds.