Legend: The Incredible Story of Green Beret Sergeant Roy Benavidez's Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines

286 Pages·2015·15.19 MB·English

by  Blehm

ALSO BY ERIC BLEHM
FEARLESS
THE ONLY THING WORTH DYING FOR
THE LAST SEASON

This story is dedicated to all those who served in the Military
Assistance Command Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group
(MACV-SOG), and the pilots, crews, and maintenance personnel of
the assault helicopter companies who supported their missions
during the war in Vietnam.
THE ANTIDOTE FOR FIFTY ENEMIES IS ONE FRIEND.
–ARISTOTLE
CONTENTS
Cover
Also by Eric Blehm
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Epigraph
Key Military Personnel for the May 2 Mission
Map
Prologue
Chapter 1: Street Kid from Cuero
2: “Look Sharp, Be Sharp, Go Army!”
3: The Darkest White
4: Green Beret
5: The Secret War
6: Anatomy of a Mission
7: Welcome to Detachment B-56
8: Over the Fence
9: The Launch
10: As Bad As It Gets
Photo Insert 1
11: Daniel Boone Tactical Emergency
12: If Someone Needs Help…
13: Last Chance
14: Deliverance
Photo Insert 2
15: Mettle for Medal
Epilogue
Research and Acknowledgments
KEY MILITARY PERSONNEL FOR THE MAY 2
MISSION
Military Assistance Command Vietnam, Studies and
Observations Group (MACV-SOG)
PROJECT SIGMA, DETACHMENT B-56
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Drake, Commander
First Lieutenant Fred Jones, Launch Officer
Captain Robin Tornow, U.S. Air Force Forward Air Controller (FAC)
PROJECT SIGMA, DETACHMENT B-56 RECON TEAM
Sergeant First Class Leroy Wright, Team Leader
Staff Sergeant Lloyd Mousseau, Assistant Team Leader
Specialist 4 Brian O’Connor, Radioman
Tuan, CIDG Interpreter
Bao, CIDG Point Man
Chien, CIDG Grenadier
CIDG Rifleman
CIDG Rifleman
CIDG Rifleman
CIDG Rifleman
CIDG Ammo Bearer
CIDG Ammo Bearer
214TH COMBAT AVIATION BATTALION (CAB), 12TH
COMBAT AVIATION GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BRIGADE
240th Assault Helicopter Company
Major Jesse James, Commander
2ND PLATOON GREYHOUND SLICKS
AC = pilot/aircraft commander, left seat CP = copilot, right seat
CC = crew chief/left-door gunner
DG = right-door gunner
BM = bellyman
Command and Control (C&C)
Major Jesse James, AC
First Lieutenant Alan Yurman (leader of 2nd Platoon), CP
Unknown, CC
Unknown, DG
First Lieutenant Fred Jones, Detachment B-56 Mission Launch Officer
Special Forces Major (name unknown), Detachment B-56 Observer
Greyhound One* (primary/lead)
Warrant Officer Larry McKibben, AC
Warrant Officer William Fernan, CP
Specialist 4 Dan Christensen, CC
Specialist 4 Nelson Fournier, DG
Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez, BM
Greyhound Two (primary/wingman)
Warrant Officer Jerry Ewing, AC
First Lieutenant Bob Portman, CP
Specialist 5 Paul Tagliaferri, CC
Unknown, DG
Greyhound Three (reserve/lead)
Warrant Officer Roger Waggie, AC
Warrant Officer David Hoffman, CP
Specialist 4 Michael Craig, CC
Unknown, DG
Unknown, BM
Greyhound Three (second crew)
Warrant Officer Roger Waggie, AC
Warrant Officer David Hoffman, CP
Warrant Officer William Darling, CC
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thomas Smith, DG
Staff Sergeant Ron Sammons, BM
Greyhound Four (reserve/wingman)
Warrant Officer William Armstrong, AC
Warrant Officer James Fussell, CP
Specialist 4 Gary Land, CC
Specialist 4 Robert Wessel, DG
Specialist 5 James Calvey, BM
3RD PLATOON MAD DOG GUNSHIPS
AC = aircraft commander/pilot, right seat/rockets CP = copilot, left
seat/miniguns
CC = crew chief/left-door gunner
DG = right-door gunner
Mad Dog One (first fire team/lead)
Chief Warrant Officer 2 William Curry, AC
Chief Warrant Officer 1 David Brown, CP
Sergeant First Class Pete Jones, CC
“Swisher,” DG