ITEM NO. 2.1 COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA - MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1999 - 9:OOA.M. NO ORDER ISSUED - SEE OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER TRANSCRIPT WITHDREW - COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST (THERE WAS ANOTHER MEETING GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME) Itl COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT. MADE BY: William H. Williams MEETING DATE: April 12, 1999 SUBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC) OFFICE: Commissioners' Court TIME PREFERRED: Consider and discuss supporting of the Hill Country Airborne Association, Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association and Alamo Chapter 15 Special Forces Association in their effort in making application to the Veterans Administration to rename the Kerrville VA Medical Center as the Roy P. Benavidez VA Medical Center. EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON) NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Commissioner Pct. #2Bennie Hyde Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays: THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON: All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepazed for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towazds you request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules Adopted by Commissioners' Court. 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday. HILL COUNTRY VETERANS COUNCIL William C. Bacon B/Gen. USAF Ret 205 Kendall Falls Road Comfort, Tx 78013 March 19, 1999 Fred Henneke Kerr County Judge 800 Main Street Kenville, Texas 78028 Dear Judge Henneke, The Hill Country Veterans Council in concert with the Hill Country Airborne Association, Alamo Silver Wings Airborne Association and Alamo Chapter 15 Special Forces Association have requested Congressman Lamar Smith make application to the Veterans Administration to rename the Kerrville VA Medical Center as the ROY P. BENAVIDEZ VA MEDICAL CENTER. Master Sergeant Benavidez is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient whose citation and photo is enclosed to provide you additional information. Master Sergeant Benavidez passed away 29 November 1998. In addition to his service duty, Benavidez spent many of his retirement years in support of veterans and civic affairs. In addition to contacting Congressman Smith, we have solicited the support of Senators Gramm and Hutchison and Congressmen Gonzalez, Bonilla, and Rodriguez. We believe that we also need to add the support of our local, county and state elected leaders to add credence to this request. It is for this reason we ask for your support. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at 89_ 0 5 or call Sherry Cunningham at 896-1155. Sincerely, Bennie Hyde; Member Hill Country Veterans Council C~iftt#~iun The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in dte Warne oftlte Congress the Medal ofHonor to ~tt~fer~Pr~gttnt ~ng ~. ~pnttbi~E~ ~nifE~~stttfrg~irm~t (~KEfirs~~ for conspicuous gallanhy and intrepidity in action at the risk of Iris life above and beyond the call of duty: On 2 May 1968, Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez, distinguished himselfby a series ofdaring and extremely valorous actions while assigned to Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of May 2, 1968, a 12 than Special Forces Reconnaissance Teazn was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam, to gather intelligence information about confirmed large scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Viemaznese Anny. After a short period of ne or. on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance. arrd requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crew metnbers and to assess aircraft daznage. Sergeant Benavidez vohnttaz~ily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that ail the teazn mernbers were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, lte directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where ire jurnped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small anns fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team's position, he was wounded in his right leg, face and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioned the team metnbers artd directed their fue to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, artd the loading of wounded and dead learn metnbers. He then threw smoke canisters to du~ect aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the waiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the learn leader's body, Sergeant Betavidez was severely wounded by small anns fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in Iris back. At nearly the same moment, the au~craft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and [Wade his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the ovetturzred aircraft, and gathered the stwrned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter dishibuting water and ammunition to his weary men, reins[illing in them a will to liye and fight. Facutg a build-up of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Beuavidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gtutships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt He was wounded again in his thigh by small amps fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from behind by azt enemy soldier. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he sustained additional wounds to his head and anns before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing [he craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensm~e that al l classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss ofblood did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant Benavidez's gallant choice to join voluntarily Iris canrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of ovenvhehning odds were in keeping with [he highest traditions ofthe military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Anny.