This past Sunday our post held a pancake breakfast. The best part of the breakfast is meeting all who came and had a nice breakfast.
One thing that was particularly amazing is that many who came visited our post for the first time. Some ventured out and asked to see our meeting room.
In our meeting room we have various military items and pictures of interest. It was especially nice to see the little ones, youngsters, that took so much interest in the memorabilia we have, mostly from all of our members who we call heroes.
As the youngsters wandered around with their parents asking questions, I could see that they gained patriotism learning about what many of the members of our post did for our country.
I want to thank all who attended the breakfast and hope everyone enjoyed the meal. We certainly enjoyed cooking for everyone (somewhat anyway). The kitchen staff did a remarkable job, and at times even had fun.
I had a small part in the work in the kitchen and thank all who worked so hard. A special thanks to the entire Scarey family with a special thanks to the Princess and Jr. Princess for waiting tables and cleaning afterwards.
Now for some news regarding Bingo at the post. We will have our first night of BINGO on Thursday April 3rd at 6 p.m. I hope that all will come out and have fun trying to win a game or two.
The kitchen will have some refreshments for you brought to you by the Community Center of Windham. So, we invite you all to have fun.
I also would like to remind everyone that on Friday May 30th we will have our 17th annual golf outing.
You can sponsor a tee that you could honor a family member who served our country, a first responder or your business. If you would like information regarding this event, please contact me at vfwpost1545@gmail.com.
As I have done in recent articles, I have honored POW/MIA’s. This week I would like to honor a Medal of Honor recipient, as this past March 25th was National Medal of Honor Day.
National Medal of Honor Day was established by Congress to “foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor Recipients.”
The first National Medal of Honor Day was celebrated on March 25, 1991. March 25th was chosen because it was on that date in 1863 that the first Medals of Honor were presented to six members of Andrews’ Raiders.
I would like to highlight one recipient of this award, and his name is Roy P. Benavidez, Master Sergeant U.S. Army.
On May 2, 1968, a 12-man Special Forces patrol, which included nine Montagnard tribesmen, was surrounded by an 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, which was 30-40 ft off the ground, 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."
At one point in the battle, an NVA soldier accosted him and stabbed him with his bayonet. Benavidez pulled it out, drew his own knife, killed him and kept going, leaving his knife in the NVA soldier's body.
He later killed two more NVA soldiers with an AK-47 while providing cover fire for the people boarding the helicopter. 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 to show that he was alive.
Benavidez had a total of 37 separate bullet, bayonet, and shrapnel wounds from the 6-hour fight with the enemy battalion. He called this “Six Hours of Hell”.
On February 24, 1981, President Ronald Reagan presented Roy P. Benavidez with the Medal of Honor in the Pentagon. Reagan turned to the press and said, "If the story of his heroism were a movie script, you would not believe it.”
For more on Master Sergeant Benavidez go to you-tube on your computer. I believe that his biography proves that his entire career in the military makes him one of the bravest ever to serve our country. Master Sergeant Raul Perez "Roy" Benavidez (August 5, 1935 – November 29, 1998).
Please keep our now serving military in your thoughts and prayers along with all who unselfishly served our country in war and peace. God Bless America.
Marc Farmilette – Past Commander Post 1545
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