Tango Mike-Mike, aka Roy Benavidez, was a United States Army Special Forces operative, a Green Beret trained in three of five possible specialties. During the Vietnam War, Benavidez put his training to the test, being placed in the harshest environments on the planet. On May 2, 1968, Roy involved himself in a situation so serious that it is called the Six Hours of Hell, where he single-handedly saved at least 8 soldiers from enemy forces. Roy Benavidez and his six hours in hell earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor and the title of hero in many American hearts. Raul (Roy) Perez Benavidez was born on August 5, 1935, to a poor family in Texas.1 His mother and father died. of tuberculosis when Roy was 7 years old. His brother, Roger, and Roy moved to El Campo, Texas, to live with their aunt and uncle. He spent time shining shoes and picking cotton on local farms to support his family, leading him to inevitably drop out of school in 7th grade.2 At age 17, Roy joined the Texas Army National Guard in support of the Korean War and rose through the ranks. until he joined the Green Berets, where he earned a certificate in oceanography, meteorology, photography, interrogation, light and heavy weapons, and linguistics.3 Returning from Europe and South America, Roy was sent to the Vietnam in 1965 as an advisor. During a patrol, he was paralyzed by a landmine. Doctors told Roy he would never walk again,4 but with determination and inspiration from anti-war media coverage, Roy crawled out of bed as often as possible using his elbows and chin.5 He leaned against a wall and finally wiggled his toes. move your feet. Upon his discharge nine months later, Roy explained that he could walk, leading the doctor to say "Benavidez, if you walk out of this room,...... middle of paper.. ....dried blood, rendering him incapable of communication, which forced Roy to spit in the doctor's face to show that he was alive.15 The doctor ensured that Roy survived and, after a year of rehabilitation, he returned to duty, stationed at Fort Riley until transferring to Fort Sam Houston in 1972, where he continued his career until his retirement on September 10, 1976. 16On February 24, 1981, Roy was awarded the Medal. Honorary of Congress for his service on May 2, 1968 and was recognized for saving at least 8 soldiers.17 In 2001, the United States Navy christened the cargo ship USNS Benavidez Roy became a speaker urging children to stay at home. school and advocated for veterans who were denied benefits.18 Roy Benavidez died on November 29, 1998, but he will long be remembered as an American hero. which brought to light the horrors of the Vietnam War during the six hours of hell.