Post: #1

First of all, I have always had tremendous respect for those who have. Especially since it is all volunteer now. I have never served, so I am always a bit cautious in commenting on the military. Call it a respect thing.

All Medal of Honor recipients have always done some pretty amazing things. And many have made the ultimate sacrifice. Some stories may stand out more than others, just curious which ones you have heard or read about.

I stumbled across this one and "holy shit" was the first thing that came to mind.

Starts at 4:38 if my link is not working.

Quote:6 Hours in Hell

On May 2, 1968, a 12-man Special Forces patrol which included nine Montagnard tribesmen, was surrounded by a NVA infantry battalion of about 1,000 men. Benavidez heard the radio appeal for help and boarded a helicopter to respond. Armed only with a knife, he jumped from the helicopter carrying his medical bag and ran to help the trapped patrol. Benavidez "distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions... and because of his 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." After the battle, he was evacuated to the base camp, examined, and thought to be dead. As he was placed in a body bag among the other dead in body bags, he was suddenly recognized by a friend who called for help.

A doctor came and examined him but believed Benavidez was dead. The doctor was about to zip up the body bag when Benavidez managed to spit in his face, alerting the doctor that he was alive.[3](see medal citation below) Benavidez had a total of 37 separate bullet, bayonet, and shrapnel wounds from the six-hour fight with the enemy battalion.[4]

Benavidez was evacuated once again to Brooke Army Medical Center, where he eventually recovered. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism and four Purple Hearts. In 1969, he was assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas. In 1972, he was assigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas where he remained until retirement.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Benavidez

Post: #2

I read that he spat in the doctors face as they were zipping him up in the body bag lol. Such a beauty

Post: #3

I appreciate your proper use of recipient instead of winner.

Post: #4

Of course I had to miss a word and can't edit it now on a thread about respect. Apologies.

Was supposed to be:

"First of all, I have always had tremendous respect for those who have served."

Post: #5

(04-19-2016 07:09 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  A doctor came and examined him but believed Benavidez was dead. The doctor was about to zip up the body bag when Benavidez managed to spit in his face, alerting the doctor that he was alive.[3](see medal citation below) Benavidez had a total of 37 separate bullet, bayonet, and shrapnel wounds from the six-hour fight with the enemy battalion.[4]

That's the most gangster shit I ever heard in my life... I'm sure if he was born 1000 years ago, he would've been a renowned warlord or some sort of famous gladiator.

I've heard some similar stories about Gurkhas (Nepalese special forces) doing some crazy ass shit. As someone who has balsa wood bones and have mostly relied on my limited wit to get through life, it makes me even more impressed when I read accounts about men who seemingly were born to kick ass.