When the helicopter rolled around, the area below appeared dark. Smoke was rising from the crater in which several of Sgt. Reynolds’ men were tied down. The initial LZ [landing zonewas blocked by a burning helicopter, which had taken off the assault forces. Sgt. Reynolds looked at the pilot and asked “Put us down. They need assistance!” The pilot asked Reynolds again to make sure and he said, “Yes, put us down.”
The pilot flew the helicopter at a low speed and slowed down, ready to allow Reynolds and his crew off. At once, the plane was bombarded by enemy fire. A variety of warning lights flashed across the instrument panel. The pilot was wounded as well as the tank for fuel had damaged and leaking fuel.
The co-pilot was able to salvage the vessel and then flew to an adjacent Special Forces firebase about five miles away. He was able to avoid crashing several times, but was able to get the plane down. Reynolds and his crew quickly evacuated, in fear of that they might catch fire.
The story that earned Sgt. Reynolds the Bronze Star [later up-graded to Silver Star] Silver Star] had just {begun beganpart 2 due to publish on October. 7. ].
Benjamin Lee Reynolds was born on the 19th of October 1929 at the Spring Hill community in Pike County, Alabama. The parents of his father were Jessie Frank and Era Elizabeth Stephens Reynolds. Ben was third child of eight. Soon after his birth, the family relocated into Kinston, Alabama, where they sharedcropped on the farm. Ben was a farm worker and was a student at Kinston schools until the seventh grade when he decided to quit to work full-time in the farming.
When he was 24 years old, Ben got married Helen Elizabeth Farmer in Andalusia, Alabama. Ben was drafted soon after, and reported for basic training at Camp Gordon, Georgia, in February of 1954. After finishing basic training, Ben was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina as part of the 101st Airborne. The unit was stationed there since being activated following WW II, and was mostly a training group during the period. In March 1956 the 101st was moved in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in which they were transformed into an operational division.
In November of 1954, Ben was sent to Wildflicken, Germany, as a Light Weapons Infantry Leader in 373rd Armored Infantry Battalion. He was a team leader and also trained soldiers. Because Ben had dropped out of school in 8th grade, the student wasn’t qualified to be promoted to Sergeant. While he was a soldier trainer in full-time capacity, Ben completed the 8th grade, and then he got his GED. Ben was promoted to Sergeant!
The lengthy hours of study and a busy schedule reveals something about Ben Reynolds as a soldier. In his own words, I’d like to share with you more about Ben his character: “Every Sunday morning I was required to attend church and Sunday school along with Steve as well as Helen. In March of 1957 I was baptized and began attending church on my own. I am grateful to Helen Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to attend church.”
On January 26, 1956 Ben came back home to Fort Jackson, where he was a sergeant and platoon leader in the 11th Battalion, U.S. Army Training Center. Ben along with Helen’s child, Steve is born on November 26, 1956. The daughter of the couple, Gail, was born in March 1959.
Ben Reynolds’ career path was to train soldiers. In the following three years Ben was a trainer at Fort Jackson and finally at Fort Benning, Georgia. The year 1961 saw him transferred to Korea and placed in the Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Division. Ben took an absence from his duties in training soldiers to oversee the NCO Club for a year. Then, in October of 1962, Ben transferred home to Fort Jackson, where he continued to instruct soldiers.
When the year 1964 began, Ben took part in 1964’s first group of soldiers who were to go to what was later to be known as the Drill Sergeant Academy. After he graduated from the academy, he was an instructor at the academy.
Ben was moved from Fort Rucker, Alabama, in the early months of 1966, to be closer to his mother who was suffering from cancer. In Fort Rucker, he was elevated to the rank of First Sergeant. Following the death of his mother, Ben was sent to Fort Benning in December 1966.
Ben was assigned into Vietnam at first in the month of October 1967. The company he was in was Company B. 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. The headquarters of his company was located in Pleiku located in Kontum Province. He was assigned to Company S-3 Major Carl Stiner, for assignment and was promoted to First Sergeant. He was in charge of the rifle company of 156 men. The company’s commander was the Captain Robert Morton.
The First Sergeant Ben Reynolds spent the next twelve months in Company B. The group consisted from six officers, and 156 enlisted members. Their task was to hunt for enemy forces and eliminate the enemy. One of these missions that took place in the month of January, 1968 especially bloody.
On the 19th of January, 1968 Company B was operating in Kontum Province, just west of Dak To. When the soldiers stopped for have a meal, they were suddenly under attack by a huge NVA [North Vietnam Army]. They had entered an ambush that was well-planned. Captain Morton was the commander of the company instructed his troops to retreat to the top of the hill. The fight that ensued could be best described by Sergeant. Reynolds. “Within minutes I looked around but all I saw was myself and the RTO (radio phone operator). ]…I gave my gun as well as my helmet back to RTO and rushed forward to grab what later turned out to be the deceased Forward Observer ….As I returned to a group of my group I was shot at from the trees that were behind us. _
“Just then an officer Williams was struck and screamed in pain. I ran after him and pulled him from behind the tree. At that point an 82mm mortar gun hit me where I was lying, injuring captain Morton as well as two other RTOs. The CO was wounded numerous injuries to both his lower back, and buttocks…I quickly created a temporary litter to transport the CO…I demanded the attention of Lieutenant. Wade, our senior platoon leader, and told him “you’ve got yourself a business. The Lt. Wade replied and said ‘I’ve got everything I’m capable of handling in this area. The other platoon commanders all were of the same opinion.
“About the time that Lieutenant. Col. Hendrix, our battalion’s commanding officer, appeared to the radio. He stated that he’d been watching everything…He advised me to head up the organization and inform him of ways can he help…I informed him that we were being hit by incessant fire from the trees, and that he was required to send a team down the ridgeline in order to help…The danger posed by this unit caused the enemy to leave and move out…We returned to our battalion area. There were seven dead and 14 wounded and four wounded. 4. Daryl Johnson was missing. Johnson is originally from North Carolina and is still missing.”
Lieutenant First in Company B Ben Reynolds would be awarded the Silver Star for his actions on that day. The award reads, “First Sergeant Reynolds displayed outstanding leadership qualities in deploying his troops in strategic positions, moving from one place to another, controlling fire and providing encouragement. His courageous actions during the battle helped save many lives and significantly contributed to the success of the mission of the Company. First Sergeant Reynolds his personal courage and unwavering commitment to duty are in line with the most exemplary traditions in”the United States Army.”
John Vick[to be added laterto be continued
The article Benjamin L. Reynolds Command Sergeant Major U.S. Army, Vietnam Two Silver Stars was published in the first issue of The Andalusia star-news.
