Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3103

02/25/2025

Rest assured, my staff and I will continue to be vigilant, ensure that veterans’ personal information is protected and VA provides the care and benefits veterans have earned. We are watching your six.

02/25/2025

Congrats to all the VFW Department winners of this year’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition! Listen to the winners here: https://bit.ly/3XfkXur

Reminder: If you won’t be in Washington, D.C., for the Parade of Winners, please join us live on Facebook March 3 at 5 p.m. CST and vfw.org/VFWDC2025 to follow along as the $35,000 grand prize winner is announced!

02/25/2025

Medal of Honor Monday with Tara Ross.

*** Medal of Honor Monday! 🇺🇸🇺🇸 ***

On this day in 1981, a member of the United States Army Special Forces receives the Medal of Honor. Surely no one had expected the orphaned son of Texas sharecroppers to one day earn such an honor?

Yet Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez did exactly that.

The story of his heroic action sounds a bit like a scene from a Hollywood movie. Indeed, as he awarded the Medal, Ronald Reagan reportedly noted that “you wouldn’t believe” Benavidez’s story because it sounds too much like a movie script.

On May 2, 1968, Benavidez was at a forward operating base in Vietnam. A twelve-member Special Forces team was then operating just west of Loc Ninh. Unfortunately, they were discovered and came under heavy fire. Three helicopters were dispatched to extract the team, but they were forced to turn back because of intense small arms and antiaircraft fire. A second rescue attempt was mounted. Benavidez volunteered for the mission.

“When I got on that ‘copter, little did I know we were going to spend six hours in hell,” he recounted years later.

As the helicopter arrived, Benavidez realized just how bad the situation was. “That’s when I really made up my mind,” he wrote later. “I couldn’t leave them down there. We had to do something. . . . I just couldn’t sit there and listen to my buddies die on the radio.”

The pilot dropped Benavidez in a nearby clearing. Benavidez had only a medical bag and a knife. He ran 75 meters to the spot where the American force had hunkered down. The Vietnamese were shooting at him the whole way. By the time he made it to his comrades, he was already wounded in his head, face, and leg.

Nevertheless, Benavidez took charge, administering first aid and organizing the men. He directed their fire, enabling an extraction aircraft to land. He assisted the severely wounded men to the helicopter, and he provided cover for others. He returned to the body of the dead team leader, knowing that classified documents needed to be retrieved.

Just as it seemed that the rescue might be completed, two terrible things happened: First, the helicopter pilot was killed, causing the helicopter to crash to the ground. At about the same time, Benavidez was struck by gr***de shrapnel in his back, and he was shot in the stomach.

Americans were stranded yet again.

Benavidez kept the men together. He established a defense perimeter, and he radioed for air cover until another rescue attempt could be made. One of the survivors later testified: “I was ready to die, and I’m sure the other team members realized the futility of continuing on against such odds. It was Benavidez’s indomitable spirit and courage that made us hold on for an extra five or ten minutes that then dragged into hours . . . .”

Finally, the wounded men were loaded onto a second helicopter. Even then, Benavidez had to fight off an NVA soldier who came at him with a bayonet. Benavidez didn’t try to avoid the bayonet, instead grabbing it and pulling the enemy closer so he could stab him. Benavidez’s hand was sliced open, but the enemy combatant was killed on the spot.

As Benavidez climbed into the helicopter, he was carrying his own intestines. He was so badly wounded that the doctor at the base initially thought he was dead. Benavidez was being zipped into a body bag when he spat at the doctor’s face, letting everyone know that he was still alive.

The manner in which Benavidez received his Medal of Honor is its own story. ;) However, that medal was finally given to him on February 24, 1981.

Benavidez later told a reporter that he leaned on his Catholic faith throughout that day in 1968. He was continuously making the sign of the cross. He was doing it so often, he said, that his arms “were going like an airplane prop.”

Benavidez didn’t think that he’d done anything extraordinary. “No, that’s duty,” he told the journalist.

An extraordinary act undertaken with a humble spirit. A true American hero.

---------------------------
If you enjoy these history posts, please see my note below. :)

Gentle reminder: History posts are copyright © 2013-2025 by Tara Ross. I appreciate it when you use the shar e feature instead of cutting/pasting.

02/21/2025

VA Secretary Doug Collins released a video from his office today addressing rumors circulating about Veterans' benefits and VA health care.

02/21/2025

This Sunday, we honor the 80th anniversary of the Iwo Jima flag raising with a special screening of Flags of Our Fathers at the National Museum of the Marine Corps' Medal of Honor Theater. Experience the powerful story of the Marines who fought at Iwo Jima and the photo that became a symbol of courage and sacrifice.

Showtimes: 10:30 AM & 2:00 PM. Tickets: $8 per person. Don’t forget to visit the WWII Gallery, where both historic Iwo Jima flags will be on display.

🎟️ https://ticketing.useast.veezi.com/sessions/?siteToken=2h8dz5g8x9ywxhcmdktrmm0zb8

See you at the museum!

02/21/2025

Lt. Francis E. Callahan, who died at 22 in a 1944 bombing mission, will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery later this month.

02/21/2025

The Department of Veterans Affairs will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on Feb. 28 to celebrate the opening of its largest-ever leased Health Care Center (HCC).
The 470,000 square-foot facility, located at 10432 Patriot Highway in Spotsylvania County, will open March 3. It is set to serve more than 35,000 veterans annually and will create between 750 and 900 new jobs at full capacity.

https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2025/02/20/new-va-clinic-to-open-march-3-in-spotsylvania/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR06ATwg9XyXa2lCf7cHv6mhoecRn1vIyuC7SJshiA-w02tkyphDqVvTlbY_aem_3GkoXxVncfWoG4ZRJlN5Rg

A ribbon cutting ceremony for 470,000 square foot facility will be held Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.

02/21/2025

Join us this Friday, 21 February 2025, from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm! This week’s Canteen Dinner will feature Stuffed Peppers, Corn, Salad, and Dessert. Dinner is just $13.00 each.

We’ll also have our Queen of Hearts game.

The Ship’s Store will also be available.

Must be a member or a guest of a member.

If you'd like more information about becoming a VFW member, or a member of the Auxiliary, please message us.

VFW qualifications: http://www.vfw.org/join/eligibility
VFW Auxiliary qualifications: https://vfwauxiliary.org/join-us/eligibility-information/

02/21/2025

Heads up.

With the transition to MHS Genesis, the Defense Department is decommissioning the Tricare Online Patient Portal.

02/19/2025

https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-02-19/vmsdep-funding-glenn-youngkin-general-assembly-legislators?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3NQVuhWU8SQrAKcZ6ZBQonoEWttshsSwdvDXPhRj62c8Ra-67X6l5Ttog_aem_BQ2yxoopVtk8otFrvBH_KA

Extra reporting requirements also on the table for tuition waiver program.

02/19/2025

🎮 Happening TONIGHT at 7:30 p.m. CST: Join your VFW Combat Tested Gaming Community for a game night! Players will be paired up in this fun, super hero PVP game - don’t miss out on the action ➡️ https://discord.gg/CombatTestedGaming

Never played? No problem! This gaming event is open and free to veterans and service members!

02/19/2025

Chairmen Moran and Bost of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs, and Sen. Kennedy of Louisiana, have introduced a bill to preserve the Second Amendment rights of veterans with VA-assigned fiduciaries.

Learn more about the proposed legislation: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2025/2/chairmen-moran-bost-sen-kennedy-introduce-legislation-to-protect-veterans-second-amendment-rights

02/19/2025

Reminder that the Monthly Membership Meeting is scheduled for tomorrow evening, 20 February 2025, at 7:30 pm.
Like you, we’re watching the weather and will post any changes, or accommodations, as soon as we have them.

02/19/2025

Seaman 1st Class Aaron L. McMurtrey, 27, of Durant, Oklahoma, killed during World War II, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. His niece, Sharon Gunselman, and other family members were in attendance. On Dec. 7, 1941, McMurtrey was assigned...

02/19/2025

“We know there is a lot of uncertainty for veterans today. For those of us that have seen combat, we know not to be concerned with every explosion that happens on the battlefield. Not every round flying overhead is aimed at us. That is why we must not get distracted and stay focused on the mission, push towards the objective and when necessary, be ready to react to contact.”

Read VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt’s full message: https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2025/2/vfw-reminds-members-to-stay-focused-amid-confusion-in-the-capital

02/17/2025

Medal of Honor Monday with Tara Ross.

*** Medal of Honor Monday! 🇺🇸🇺🇸 ***

On this day in 1945, a hero engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Rufus “Geddie” Herring’s bravery came during World War II as he commanded a landing craft that had been converted into a gunboat.

The craft, LCI(G)-449, had already participated in several invasions of Japanese-held islands during 1944. The crew had emerged, unscathed, from those experiences, and the men were beginning to feel as if their ship was a good luck charm.

Iwo Jima would change that.

It was February 17, 1945, just two days before the planned invasion of that island. LCI(G)-449 had been tasked with assisting a pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima. Along with other LCI(G)s, the vessel would also provide cover for Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) swimmers as they conducted a last-minute survey of the waters.

Those serving aboard the LCI(G)s must have been a special kind of brave, just to be there in the first place?

“The only armor on LCI(G)-449,” historian James H. Hallas explains, “was two inches of plastic splinter protection on the gun turrets, conning tower, and pilot house. That plastic would be about as much protection as a stick of butter in the event of a direct hit from a 150mm shell.”

Such a situation would prove unfortunate that day. As the LCI(G) vessels approached, the Japanese saw their formation and believed an actual invasion had begun. They unleashed a torrent of fire on the approaching American boats.

The LCI(G)s were badly outgunned, and they were about to unintentionally pay a steep price for information, as Hallas explains.

“[M]uch of the fire directed at the LCIs came from heretofore unknown and unsuspected positions,” Hallas writes. “Their premature disclosure would prove a boon to Marines who landed two days later—had they remained unidentified, these guns would have added immeasurably to the havoc wreaked on the actual landing.”

Then-Lt.(jg) Herring and his men aboard LCI(G)-449 took an especially hard hit.

In the span of about one minute, the ship was hit by three enemy shells. Two forward guns were taken out, and the bridge was hit. Dozens were injured or killed. Herring was blown out of the conning tower.

The young commanding officer had a broken arm, a broken leg, burns, and shrapnel wounds. He could see that his ship was in trouble as fires raged everywhere, but he was determined not to go down without a fight.

His Medal of Honor citation describes what happened next: “Lt. Herring resolutely climbed down to the pilothouse and, fighting against his rapidly waning strength, took over the helm, established communication with the engineroom, and carried on valiantly . . . .”

Would you believe he kept covering the UDT swimmers? He left only when every gun on his ship had been silenced, and he could help no more. By then, he was propped up against empty shell cases, and he was slipping in and out of consciousness.

An uninjured engineering officer took command, turned the ship around, and got help for the wounded and struggling crew.

Herring spent months recuperating, but he survived his action. He even fell in love with one of his nurses and married her in March 1947. By then, he’d been awarded a Medal of Honor, one of five sailors to receive the Medal for actions at Iwo Jima.

He was humble about what he’d done, as so many Medal recipients are.

“We were all in the same boat. We were all following orders . . . . I just happened to be on the firing line; that’s all,” he told a reporter. “All that any Medal of Honor man was doing was performing his particular assignment the best he knew how.”

Herring passed away in 1996, at the age of 74. Rest in peace, Sir.

---------------------------
If you enjoy these history posts, please see my note below. :)

Gentle reminder: History posts are copyright © 2013-2025 by Tara Ross. I appreciate it when you use the shar e feature instead of cutting/pasting.