Editors Note: There were many acts of valor on May 2, 1968!  Whenever Roy Benavidez spoke about the battle he always recognized the valor of those who were with him on that day and he frequently referred to them as the "true heroes"  There were four major groups that took part in the action: The helicopter crews from the 240th AHC, the reconnaissance team members - American, Vietnamese and indigenous, other members of Detachment B-56, the forward air controllers, and the fighter bomber pilots.  The following summary does not do justice to all and we ask that you view it as a work in progress as we strive to build the "Virtual Memorial" to Roy Benavidez and his brothers in arms on May 2, 1968, Cambodia.  In brief -  if you have knowledge of individuals and actions that should be mentioned here, please contact Valor Remembered.

Mad Dogs, Greyhounds, and Kennel Keepers.   At least 36 members of the US Army's 240th Assault Helicopter Company (240TH AHC)  were directly involved in the Benavidez MOH incident.  They flew the transport slicks (call sign Greyhound) and gunships (call sign Maddog) on the insertion and rescue attempts. 

Crewchief Michael Craig was killed during the first extraction attempt, while Warrant Officer Larry McKibben, slick pilot,  and his crew chief Nelson Fournier, where killed when they landed to pick up Roy and the team.  

Most of the 240th's members were not recognized in any official way for their parts in the mission.  Even Warrant Officer Two Roger Waggie, who made the actual rescue pickup was not recognized until he belatedly received a Silver Star, America's third highest award for valor in combat, after his death 1998. Learn more about the Mad Dogs and Greyhounds at this link:  240th AHC

Leroy Wright's Team.  The recon team had twelve members, three American Special Forces members attached to  the 5th Special Forces Groups Detachment B-56, and seven indigenous and two South Vietnamese Army members. Wright's Team

The team leader, or One-Zero, Sgt. First Class Leroy N. Wright was killed in the action, shortly after rolling onto a grenade to shield his teammates from its blast. Leroy Wright. 

The assistant team leader, the One-One,  Staff Sgt. Lloyd "Frenchy" Mousseau, died of his wounds just before reaching the hospital in Saigon. Mousseau 

The indigenous and South Vietnamese members of the team fought valiantly and loyally.  Their names have apparently never been published and are probably lost to history forever.  Four of them died in the action. CIDG  ARVN

Detachment B-56 - Other Members.  Other members of Detachment B-56, Fifth Special Forces Group served important roles in the action and some were instrumental in the successful extraction of the team. 

Special Forces medics rode in the transport helicopters on each of the many extraction attempts. One named Sammons deployed from the helicopter and aided Roy Benavidez in carrying in the wounded and dead.

Other members of B-56 were airborne in the Command and Control aircraft.  All were subjected to heavy enemy fire and performed their duties at great personal risk.  A reaction platoon was inserted into the landing zone shortly after the extraction of the team to recover the bodies of Leroy Wright, Larry McKibben, and Nelson Fournier.

Tactical Air Support.  The air strikes by jet fighter bombers held the enemy at bay and inflicted many casualties on  the enemy, preventing a massed attack that would have easily overrun the small team. 

These strikes were led by a US Air Force  forward air controller or FAC,  1st Lt. Robin Tornow, 19th TASS, whose personal account of the air action is available at:  Mayday Mayday. 

Several flights of jet fighter bombers responded to Tornow's emergency request for assistance and without their support the team would surely have been wiped out.

Roy's Other Acts of Valor.  Roy performed many acts of  valor during his life time. On his first tour of duty an explosion injured him so severely that the Army doctors told him that he would never walk again.

Roy refused to accept this and struggled for many painful months to learn to stand and finally to walk again.  Many men would have been glad to be out of the Army in the turbulent years of 1966 and  67, but Roy Benavidez fought against his pain and his doctors to walk again, and to stay in the Army.  Next he fought to re-qualify as a paratrooper, and then to complete the grueling Special Forces training school.  The determination and valor that Roy demonstrated in these "stateside" battles brought him finally back to Vietnam for his second tour of duty, and his Medal of Honor. 

After receiving the MOH Benavidez devoted the rest of his life to his "final mission"  He traveled extensively making public appearances nationwide and around the world, speaking of his simple but powerful message "duty, honor, country"   He carried on despite constant pain from his many wounds until at last his body could go no further.  Honors Final Mission Remember Me