The Association of the U.S. Army has released its second graphic novel as part of a series highlighting Medal of Honor recipients.

Medal of Honor: Roy Benavidez features the story of Special Forces Staff Sgt. Roy Benavidez, a Green Beret legend and Vietnam War veteran.

“It’s a very powerful story and one that people are going to enjoy reading,” said Joseph Craig, director of AUSA’s Book Program.

On May 2, 1968, Benavidez volunteered to help rescue a 12-man reconnaissance team trapped by the North Vietnamese Army near the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He was severely wounded multiple times as he crossed 75 yards of open ground toward the team.

Despite his critical condition, he tended to survivors, including those from a downed aircraft hit by ground fire, recovered classified documents and carried his wounded comrades to safety—all while under heavy enemy fire. 

Benavidez was awarded the U.S. military’s highest honor for his actions that day.

The full-color digital graphic novel was created by a talented team of professionals. The script was written by Chuck Dixon, best known for his work on Marvel Comics’ Punisher and DC Comics’ Batman and Nightwing.

“One of the things I was really impressed with is the level of work that the creative team has put into it,” Craig said. “The scripts and the artists—these are all people from the world of professional comic book publishing. These guys know comics, they know military comics in particular, and the job is just really top-notch.”

Drawings and the cover were done by Rick Magyar, an artist, penciller and inker who has also worked for Marvel and DC on Iron Man, ROM Spaceknight, Defenders and Omega Men. Colors were done by Peter Pantazis, who has worked on Justice League, Superman and Wolverine. Lettering was done by Troy Peteri, who has worked on Spider-Man, Iron Man and X-Men.

AUSA’s first graphic novel was released in October. It features the story of Sgt. Alvin York’s heroic deeds in France as part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I.