Benjamin L. Reynolds, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army, Vietnam Two Silver Stars – Conclusion

Remains from Part 1 (the action occurred on February. 26 1998, which led to Reynolds receiving an award of the Bronze Star for Valor].

After the terrifying escape from the helicopter that was damaged first Sergeant Ben Reynolds approached the special forces commanding officer at the base and requested to

“borrow”

Helicopter. The pilot was determined save his company, which was trapped in the NVA.

When they were they were airborne, they returned to the hill, where the NVA had remained on the top ground that was above his company. Once he had landed on the floor, first Sergeant. Reynolds joined the first platoon in the attack on the hill, which was being held by an incredibly more powerful NVA force. Reynolds was referred to as “Top”by the men of the company a title that was given by their first SergeantReynolds),was quick to realize that a portion of his unit was cut off from the rest of his.

Quoted from the Army report, which upgraded Reynolds’s Bronze Star to a Silver Star: “During the initial attack during the initial assault, Reynolds, the First Platoon leader was wounded and, without hesitation First Sgt. Reynolds took over the charge… placing himself in constant danger being in constant motion and interacting while under attack, Reynolds efficiently utilized the platoon and put effective fire at the enemy. Once the unit was in motion and moving, he took the target. When he was on the target Reynolds continued to open himself up while coordinating the care and evacuation of wounded …First Sergeant. Reynolds was a role model of leadership and extraordinary courage during intense combat. This was critical for the 1st Platoon and B Company’s successful mission accomplishment…This resulted in the capture of the Headquarters and Command Post of the 7th Battalion, 66th Regiment of the North Vietnamese Army, and the concomitant mauling of that enemy battalion.”

One soldier in B Company concluded, “Because of Top’s leadership and dedication to duty and his soldiers B Company, 3/12 4th Infantry Division] defeated an enemy force that was numerically superior. Top did this with no concern for his own health and safety. Top’s actions were in line with the highest standards that are the norm in his 4th Infantry Division, and give him a lot of respect as well as his troops.”

Reynolds was a part of over 50 air attacks to be awarded his Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster (representing at least 50 air combat attacksReynolds was involved in at least 50 combat air assaults. The First Sergeant’s Bronze Star was up-graded to Silver Star in 2008 because of the testimony of his soldiers. While he was proud of his Two Silver Stars, Ben Reynolds did not hesitate to shift his credit to other people. Ben Reynolds was the most satisfied with the amount of young men he assisted in training.

Reynolds explained his philosophy when he was a drill sergeant. “When first promoted, First Sergeant had been training trainees. I was training trainees for 26 sessions as a drill Sergeant. Families from across the U.S. coming to visit their husbands or sons when the trainees had time off during weekends. Families would tell me, “So you’re a sergeant who doesn’t drink and shout and scream at recruits…Just allow me to hold your hand…My son has told me that you’re the most excellent.'”

At the conclusion of his career Commander Sergeant Major Reynolds expressed his pride in the number of students who he trained,


“I was an instructor sergeant for 26 cycles, and a cycle lasts the equivalent of eight weeks…Then I was a First Sergeant, or Sergeant Major. I was there for an additional 10 cycles, for a sum of 36 times.

“A platoon consists of about 55 men. A company was approximately 190-220 men with five battalion companies with approximately 1,100 men…So we’ll say I was a drill sergeant for 277 men over 26 cycles that’s about 7,150 people that I was den father/mother as well as a finance officer, housekeeper, chaplain, training doctor and, most of all a shoulder for crying on.

“As First Sergeant, 220 men in five cycles equals 1,100 people 5500 men. When I was Sergeant Major there were 27,500 or the total number of 40,000 whom I trained.”

After his return to the United States from his first deployment in Vietnam (1967-68) the Master Sergeant Ben Reynolds was assigned as an advisor to the South Carolina National Guard in Union, S.C. The position lasted for approximately one year prior to being sent to return to Vietnam.

Reynolds joined for his 2nd tour the month of August, 1970 and was promoted to First Sergeant of the Company B of 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Division. The unit they were in was known as the Black Knightsand they operated in the III Corps area, north and south of Saigon up to close to the Cambodian border. Their task was to searching and destroying. B Company was led by the Captain Hugh F. Foster III (who later retired as an Lieutenant. Colonel].

The mission was described by Foster recalls, “We trekked through the mountains and jungles in search of a elusive enemy who didn’t wish to be discovered. Every step you made could mean the end of your journey on earth as we were constantly at risk of mines, booby-traps, and ambush. When we did locate him [or he discovered him], the outcome was always violent, deadly, and frightening.

“On one field trip, Top [Reynolds] brought an entire smoked ham the top of his bag. Every night, he would take the ham, along with an butcher knife, and then go off to chat with a few of the soldiers. I was able to listen to his conversation a few nights ago. It was like this “Hey, how do you feel about a huge slice of smoking ham? Pretty good, Huh? This is among the top things in the world. Have you thought to re-enlisting?”

“DFTR is for Don’t Forget Reenlisting! …That expression came to mind when I was thinking about the memories of First Sergeant. Benjamin L. Reynolds, with his slightly twisted, but witty sense of humor that has had a positive effect in morale.”

At this point in the war, NCOs in senior positions such as Reynolds didn’t often conduct air strikes. According to Lieutenant. Col. Foster, “Top Reynolds would be seen every few days whenever he felt that he could do the situation.” Reynolds was awarded the two Bronze Stars during this time. In April of 1971, Reynolds was transferred to the 1st Signal Brigade as First Sergeant of the HQ Company.

In August of 1971, Reynolds returned to the States and was assigned to the HQ Company, 17th Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade at Fort Jackson, S.C. After one year, he was elevated to the rank of Battalion Sergeant Major, and transferred to HQ Detachment, 1st Infantry Battalion, Basic Combat Training Brigade in Fort Jackson.

Commander Sergeant Major Ben Reynolds retired from the Army in May 1974. He was presented with the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor (later modified to become the Silver Star], the Bronze Star with three Oak Leaf Clusters as well as the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (which represents at least 50 air combat attacksand the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal [with four knots to make five awards) as well as the Army of Occupation Service Medal with Germany Clasp and the National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Vietnam Service Medal with Campaign Stars The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Gold Star and the Vietnam campaign Medal with 1960-device, which was awarded in recognition of U.S. service members who were in service from 1960 until the conclusion of the war.

Reynolds started her career as Assistant Director of Transportation in The Richland County South Carolina School District 2. In the time of his appointment the district was the biggest school within South Carolina. Ben as well as Helen’s son Steve has graduated from high school in the month of May 1975. Then, they along with their daughter, Gail relocated into Opp, Alabama.

In July 1994 In July 1994, the Army put up a monument in Fort Jackson. Fort Jackson Museum, commemorating the very first class of soldiers who graduated in the Drill Sergeant School that had was established in 1964. Ben Reynolds’ name is one of the 39 names on the list. Ben Reynolds was the first participant in that class to teach at the school.

The bronze sculpture of Drill Sergeant was unveiled at the entrance of the Drill Sergeant School in October 2001. The statue honors the first Drill Sergeants class to be graduated in 1964.

After his move into Opp, Alabama, he kept in contact with the men from Company B 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment. Encouraged by the men who he had commanded through Vietnam, Ben Reynolds decided to host an reunion at his home on July 4 in 1997. With Helen’s assistance they hosted nearly 20 people. Helen was a part of the reunion and said, “I feel that it was a rehabilitative experience for the men. My husband was a career soldier however, the majority of them were drafted and performed what the country required for them to perform.” They kept making it an annual event at Opp. Opp until they decided to relocate into St. Louis, Missouri in 2000.

Ben was unable to attend an event due to of his health issues So the group decided to bring the reunion back to Opp in 2008. Around 30 people who served with Reynolds during Vietnam were in attendance at the reunion. At the reunion Ben’s fellow soldiers determined to decide that his Bronze Star he had received in the battle of February 1968 was worthy of upgrading to the Silver Star. The letters they wrote to the Army led to an examination which led to the decision that Ben was awarded the second Silver Star. The medal was placed to Reynolds and was presented to his U.S. congressman Bobby Bright.

Reminiscing over this reunion Reynolds told the reunion, “They called me Top because that’s what soldiers refer to as Their First Sergeant. From the distance I felt it sounded like ‘Pop’. .’…They felt like I was a dad. You’re together at night and fight together. And you do battle together. You’re with them for a year, and you feel an impression of closeness.” Another participant at the reunion said “He was with us every step of the way us through Vietnam’s Central Highlands of Vietnam and was in every battle alongside us.”

From the Drill Sergeant in boot camp all the way to the battlefields of Vietnam Major Command Sergeant Benjamin L. Reynolds was the ultimate representation of an army Soldier. His legacy is being recognized in the role of a drill sergeant is able to be seen in the present in The Fort Jackson Museum.

Also, he left a legacy of his service to Opp, Alabama, after his retirement. For over the past nine years Ben Reynolds played guitar and sang bluegrass songs at Opp Nursing Home. Opp Nursing Home on Sundays. He was also part of The Dulcimer Band that played in nursing homes in Opp, Andalusia and Florala. He was also a Sunday School teacher in Opp Nursing Home. Opp Nursing Home as a substitute.

Tragically, Ben Reynolds life was ended when he was killed in a car accident that occurred on the 9th of February, 2010 close to Opp. The funeral service was in the First Baptist Church of Opp on February 12. Funeral services with full military honors was held in Peaceful Acres Cemetery. Reynolds will be missed by his spouse Helen and his son Steve [KarenReynolds] Reynolds and an adult daughter Gail Reynolds [Kenneth] Hall and five grandchildren.

John Vick

Author would like thank CSM Reynolds’s son, Steve, for his assistance in telling the story of his father. The author would also like to acknowledge the wife of CSM Reynolds, Helen who was a great aid.

[Sources: Letter to U.S. Army Lt. Col. [Ret] Hugh L. Foster III; The Dothan Eaglearticle March 14, 2008. The Opp Newsarticles February 11 2010, and July 16 1997. The Army Flier,April 22, 1964[]

The article Benjamin L. Reynolds Command Sergeant Major U.S. Army, Vietnam Two Silver Stars – Conclusion was first published at The Andalusia Star-News.