The late Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, who was given the Medal of Honor by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, was honored at a private ceremony on Friday, Jan. 3 at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.
Benavidez was the only Medal of Honor recipient to receive the honor from President Reagan. His medal has been displayed on loan to Reagan Library since 2011. Now it will be returned to his family in Texas to be preserved and showcased at the new National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington.
“Being his children, we truly don’t know what our veterans go through because we haven’t lived through that time, so we can only imagine,” said Yvette Benavidez Garcia, one of Benavidez’ daughters.
During the Vietnam War, Benavidez volunteered for a rescue mission under heavy fire and despite being severely wounded multiple times he saved the lives of at least eight Americans.
Garcia said, “I know that the medal was not just a medal for him, but a medal for every man and woman that fought not only that war but the wars that continued.” She added, “We’re so grateful that millions of people were able to share in our dad’s story and get to see what was draped around his neck and what he earned.”
Denise Prochazka, another of Benavidez’ daughters, said, “Dad always said you either lead, follow or get out of the way, and what you see here is a bunch of future leaders in the exhibit here in California, and in Texas.”
The Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration for valor, is given to those who show conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty.
Benavidez passed away in 1998.