Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, a Medal of Honor recipient, known as "Tango Mike Mike" in the radio phonetic alphabet, was one of the most exceptional Green Berets in the history of the United States Army Special Forces. His tale is one of grit, courage, and extraordinary heroism, exemplified in a single mission that is etched into the annals of military history.
In 1968, West of Loc Ninh, South Vietnam, a 12-man Special Forces reconnaissance team was surrounded by an estimated 1,000 NVA troops. They were pinned down and casualties were mounting. Back at base, Benavidez heard the frantic radio calls for support. Without a second thought, he boarded a rescue chopper, armed with only his knife and medic bag.
As the helicopter approached the battle site, it became evident that the situation was dire. Benavidez didn't hesitate; he leapt from the hovering chopper, running nearly 75 meters to reach his trapped comrades. Enemy fire cut through the air, a bullet striking his leg, but Benavidez kept going.
Upon reaching the beleaguered team, he quickly set about tending to the wounded, even as he continued to pull others from the line of fire. He administered morphine to ease their pain, provided ammunition, and radioed in airstrikes. All the while, he himself was riddled with bullets, bayonets, and shrapnel.
With all remaining survivors gathered, Benavidez signaled the extraction helicopter. Under heavy enemy fire, he loaded his wounded comrades onto the aircraft, but the helicopter pilot was fatally shot and the helicopter crashed. Unfazed, Benavidez, although seriously injured, pulled the survivors from the wreckage, forming a defensive perimeter to hold off the enemy forces.
He called in airstrikes and another extraction, yet his ordeal was not over. Benavidez was attacked and stabbed by an enemy soldier, but with an adrenaline-fueled surge, he fought back, dispatching his opponent with his own bayonet.
A second helicopter finally arrived. Despite his numerous injuries and loss of blood, Benavidez, the embodiment of the warrior ethos, facilitated the safe extraction of the remaining soldiers. He made sure that everyone was on board before he allowed himself to be pulled onto the chopper.
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 heard this over the radio, someone was in serious trouble out there.
