Benavidez Family History & Genealogy

Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the Vietnam War in the United States Army as a Master Sergeant in Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces (the Green Berets). He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery West of Loc Ninh on May 2, 1968 while a Staff Sergeant. His citation reads “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's 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”. His Medal was issued to him at the Pentagon by President Ronald Reagan on February 24, 1981.

Jovita (Benavidez) Duque of Brady, Texas United States was born on May 2, 1968. She was in a relationship with Alfredo Duque, and had a child Racheal N. (Duque) Davenport. Jovita Duque died at age 35 years old on December 12, 2003.

Manuel Benavidez Jr of Texas was born on February 27, 1952, and died at age 57 years old on March 28, 2009.

Manuel Benavidez of Garland, Dallas County, TX was born on September 10, 1960, and died at age 44 years old on December 18, 2004.

Ernesto Benavidez of San Antonio, Bexar County, TX was born on May 29, 1948, and died at age 60 years old on May 17, 2009. Ernesto Benavidez was buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery Section 45 Site 72 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, in San Antonio.

Armando R Benavidez Jr of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TX was born on October 2, 1971, and died at age 20 years old in September 1992.

Rudolf None Benavidez of Texas was born on March 11, 1951, and died at age 56 years old on March 14, 2007.

Rene Benavidez Jr of Texas was born on January 10, 1947, and died at age 63 years old on January 31, 2010.

Rene Benavidez Jr of Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas was born on February 24, 1964. Rene Benavidez was married to Laura (Lopez) Benavidez on October 1, 1984 in Jim wells County, TX, and died at age 20 years old in June 1984.

Luciano Benavidez of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas was born on November 29, 1966, and died at age 43 years old on November 18, 2010.

Elva B Benavidez of Brownsville, Cameron County, TX was born on June 9, 1954, and died at age 44 years old on August 31, 1998.

Herminia Benavidez of San Antonio, Bexar County, TX was born on March 27, 1941. Herminia Benavidez was married to Audelio Benavidez on July 2, 1972 in Bexar County, TX, and died at age 64 years old on April 21, 2005.

Cristobal Benavidez of Bernalillo County, New Mexico United States was born on April 18, 1921, and died at age 81 years old on August 14, 2002. Cristobal Benavidez was buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery Section 25 Site 106 501 North Guadalupe Street, in Santa Fe.

Casimiro A Benavidez of Dallas, Dallas County, TX was born on March 4, 1922, and died at age 73 years old on October 24, 1995.

Antonio Benavidez of Texas was born on February 24, 1952, and died at age 58 years old on January 8, 2011.

Timoteo Benavidez of Rio Grande City, Starr County, TX was born on January 24, 1937, and died at age 67 years old on September 20, 2004.

Pablo Jr Benavidez of Tucumcari, Quay County, NM was born on June 29, 1922, and died at age 75 years old on December 3, 1997.

Marcelo Benavidez Jr of McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas was born on March 18, 1946. He married Alicia (Flores) Benavidez on June 1, 1968 in Hidalgo County, TX. He also married Connie (Purgerson) Benavidez on October 8, 1988 in Harris County. He and Janet B. (Baldwin) Benavidez married on July 11, 1991 in Hidalgo County. Marcelo Benavidez died at age 61 years old on December 24, 2007.

Gildardo G Benavidez of Portland, San Patricio County, TX was born on March 21, 1950, and died at age 51 years old on July 1, 2001.

Oscar Benavidez of Mission, Hidalgo County, TX was born on August 29, 1937, and died at age 67 years old on September 20, 2004.