NOVEMBER 2014 VOL 54 President’s Message Page 1 Chapter 16 NewsleƩer OrganizaƟon and ResponsibiliƟes: Editor: Glen Craig SecƟons: Message from the President: Dave Shell Treasurers Report: Kevin PaƩon Sec. Rpt (Staff MeeƟng Minutes): John PaƩerson Sick Call/Obituary: Chaplain Butch Hall Blast from the Past: Glen Craig Special RecogniƟon: John PaƩerson Upcoming Events: John PaƩerson Calendar: John PaƩerson Human Interest Story: Chapter at large SFA NaƟonal HQ Update: Dave Shell AŌer AcƟon Report: Jim Lessler Membership Info: Roy Sayer AdverƟsements: Glen Craig Suspense: NewsleƩer published (Web): 1 st of each odd numbered month Input due to editor: 20 th of each even numbered month DraŌ due to President: 27th of each even numbered month Final DraŌ due 29 th of each even numbered month Ladies and Gentlemen of Chapter XVI, SFA, The 1 st Special Forces Group’s annual Menton commemoraƟon is upon us. It will be observed from 8‐11 December and promises, as usual, to be a befiƫng salute to the unit and its former and current members. The week’s acƟviƟes will include a wreath laying ceremony at the 1 st SFG(A) memorial wall, a combined US‐Canadian airborne operaƟon, a weapons familiarizaƟon range, staƟc displays, the Chapter XVI sponsored No‐host Social, and the Menton Ball. These acƟviƟes are open to all and are always popular with members and families of the Special Forces community. Least we forget, I would like to spotlight the reason why Menton is the premiere social event of the year for the 1 st SFG(A). The US Army’s Center for Military History, being the proponent of US Army linage and honors, records that: 1ST SPECIAL FORCES GROUP 1ST SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT ConsƟtuted 5 July 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 2 nd Company, 1 st BaƩalion, First Regiment, 1 st Special Service Force; a combined Canadian‐American organizaƟon. AcƟvated 9 July 1942 at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana. Disbanded 6 January 1945 in (Menton) France. ReconsƟtuted 15 April 1960 in the Regular Army; concurrently consolidated with Company B, 1 st Ranger Infantry BaƩalion (acƟvated 19 June 1942), and consolidated unit re‐designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1 st Special Forces Group, 1 st Special Forces. Consolidated 30 September 1960 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1 st Special Forces Group (consƟtuted 14 June 1957 in the Regular Army and acƟvated 24 June 1957 in Japan), and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1 st Special Forces Group, 1 st Special Forces (organic units concurrently consƟtuted and acƟvated 4 October 1960). Group inacƟvated 30 June 1974 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. AcƟvated 1 September 1984 at Fort Lewis, Washington. (Former Company B, 1 st Ranger Infantry BaƩalion, withdrawn 3 February 1986, consolidated with Company N, 75 th Infantry, and consolidated unit re‐designated as Company N, 75 th Ranger Regiment hereaŌer separate lineage). Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 1 st Special Forces Group, 1 st Special Forces Regiment. Some might find it interesƟng that 1 st SFG(A) linage and honors makes no menƟon of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). In fact, most will agree
Transcript
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4 V O L 5 4
President’s Message
Page 1
Chapter 16 Newsle er Organiza on and Responsibili es:
Editor: Glen Craig Sec ons:
Message from the President: Dave Shell Treasurers Report: Kevin Pa on Sec. Rpt (Staff Mee ng Minutes): John Pa erson Sick Call/Obituary: Chaplain Butch Hall Blast from the Past: Glen Craig Special Recogni on: John Pa erson Upcoming Events: John Pa erson Calendar: John Pa erson Human Interest Story: Chapter at large SFA Na onal HQ Update: Dave Shell A er Ac on Report: Jim Lessler Membership Info: Roy Sayer Adver sements: Glen Craig
Suspense:
Newsle er published (Web): 1st of each odd numbered month Input due to editor: 20th of each even numbered month Dra due to President: 27th of each even numbered month Final Dra due 29th of each even numbered month
Ladies and Gentlemen of Chapter XVI, SFA, The 1st Special Forces Group’s annual Menton commemora on is upon us. It will be observed from 8‐11 December and promises, as usual, to be a befi ng salute to the unit and its former and current members. The week’s ac vi es will include a wreath laying ceremony at the 1st SFG(A) memorial wall, a combined US‐Canadian airborne opera on, a weapons familiariza on range, sta c displays, the Chapter XVI sponsored No‐host Social, and the Menton Ball. These ac vi es are open to all and are always popular with members and families of the Special Forces community. Least we forget, I would like to spotlight the reason why Menton is the premiere social event of the year for the 1st SFG(A). The US Army’s Center for Military History, being the proponent of US Army linage and honors, records that:
1ST SPECIAL FORCES GROUP
1ST SPECIAL FORCES REGIMENT Cons tuted 5 July 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 2
nd
Company, 1st
Ba alion, First Regiment, 1st
Special Service Force; a
combined Canadian‐American organiza on.
Ac vated 9 July 1942 at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana.
Disbanded 6 January 1945 in (Menton) France.
Recons tuted 15 April 1960 in the Regular Army; concurrently
consolidated with Company B, 1st
Ranger Infantry Ba alion (ac vated 19
June 1942), and consolidated unit re‐designated as Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st
Special Forces Group, 1st
Special Forces.
Consolidated 30 September 1960 with Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 1st
Special Forces Group (cons tuted 14 June 1957 in the
Regular Army and ac vated 24 June 1957 in Japan), and consolidated unit
designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st
Special
Forces Group, 1st
Special Forces (organic units concurrently cons tuted and
ac vated 4 October 1960).
Group inac vated 30 June 1974 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Ac vated 1 September 1984 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
(Former Company B, 1st
Ranger Infantry Ba alion, withdrawn 3 February
1986, consolidated with Company N, 75th
Infantry, and consolidated unit
re‐designated as Company N, 75th
Ranger Regiment herea er separate
lineage).
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 1st
Special Forces Group, 1st
Special
Forces Regiment.
Some might find it interes ng that 1st SFG(A) linage and honors makes no men on of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). In fact, most will agree
that the Special Opera ons community benefited greatly from the OSS. Colonel Aaron Bank, an OSS and Opera on Jedburgh veteran, was chosen to organize, train, equip, and command U.S. Army Special Forces in 1952. COL Bank recruited WWII combat veterans from airborne units, from the 1st Special Service Force, and from the OSS. In 1989, the newly formed United States Army Special Opera ons Command chose the Fairbairn‐Sykes dagger, carried by some members of the OSS, to be the centerpiece of its insignia, and U.S. Special Opera ons Command wears an adapta on of the unofficial OSS spearhead insignia as its shoulder patch. However, while we may be cut from the cloth of the OSS, it is the 1st Special Service Force to whom we are rooted. I have offered you this bit of SF legacy because I place a high premium on remembering where we come from and to whom we owe tribute for their sacrifices along the way. Please join me as we honor the proud history of the Special Forces Regiment and as we share in a very special camaraderie that is born from love of country, tempered with sweat, blood, and toil, and wri en in stone on the ba lefields of the world. De Oppresso Liber, Dave
Chapter XVI SFA
William R. Card Chapter
Board of Directors (BOD) Mee ng Minutes October 11, 2014
Call to Order: Chapter President Dave Shell called the mee ng to order at 0915 at the 1st SFG(A) Regimental Mess.
Members Present: Dave Shell – President, Eric Heid – Vice President, Kevin Pa on – Treasurer , Paul Bagshaw – Secretary.
President: Dave Shell proposed that the mee ng be opened. All said Aye. Dave explained that the purpose of the BOD mee ng was to conduct rou ne chapter business outside of the bi‐monthly mee ng. It would be more efficient and would allow the Chapter mee ngs to be more enjoyable and shorter. A proposal was made to write up Regimental Mess usage rules. It would outline what the chapter provides to the mess for day to day opera ons as well as general guidelines. Kevin Pa on volunteered to dra these rules up. The Dae Han Park Plaque was intro‐duced that it was a short no ce cost and that it was a no‐fail event for the Group and the chapter. The chapter donated $1232.30 for the plaque. The fact that the Group has a memorializa on SOP was men oned but also addressed was the re‐educa on of the personnel in charge of the process and the meliness of the process. Eric Heid also men oned the fact that companies like Triple Canopy have memorializa on programs and that we should seek assistance with programs as such in the future, me permi ng of course. The GSB Raffle was the next point of order. The chapter would be allowing GSB to use their raffle license and that the chapter would be providing $250. The Chapter would receive 50% of the proceeds from the raffle. GSB would be responsible for selling all of the ckets on their own. Eric Heid discussed the business opportunity to sell raffle ckets at the Annual Shot Show. The Green Beret founda on currently has the event but if they don’t provide proper support then Chapter 16 may be able to par cipate in the event in 2016. Dave Shell men oned that the Chapter 16 website is up and running but currently there are glitches in the mass email func on associated with the site. Dave is pursuing to use a mail service called “Mail Chimp” but there are some spam issues due to the large number of email addresses in the Chapters database that are no longer valid. The mass mailing issues should be resolved within a couple of weeks. Eric Heid proposed a business directory. He suggested a printed format but Paul Bagshaw proposed an electronic one on the website. Proposed fees were $5/monthly or $50/yearly. Dave Shell he would check with the website manager for more informa on on how to proceed. Eric proposed a rule of order amongst the BOD members regarding expenditures. If the expenditure is less than $150 anyone of the members can make the call. Dave proposed it take two members to approve seeing the current state of being able to phone each other rather easily. For expenditures above $500 it would take three members for approval. All BOD members were in favor. A Chapter 16 SFA Tri‐fold was proposed. It would provide informa on on the chapter’s history as well of what the Chapter does and how it benefits the local SF unit. It would also include informa on on being a member. Paul Bagshaw will provide Dave Shell with a tri‐fold format for popula on. Eric Heid stated that there is a requirement to produce a Memorandum of Understanding between Chapter 16 and OASIS. He has assumed responsibility to complete this task. Dave Shell provided details on the upcoming No Host Social during Menton Week. The chapter will provide $2000 worth of food and beverages. Thai food will be on the menu and it has been proposed to use Ayu haya Restaurant because the food is good and they deliver, thus reducing the coordina on for picking up the food. Dave Shell also proposed that next year the No Host Social be penned as the SFA Menton Social in all correspondence and adver sement of the event. This would provide be er recogni on for the contribu ons that Chapter 16 provides 1st SFG(A). The annual Auburn Veteran’s Day Parade was discussed. SF Brotherhood would be in a endance. Green blazer is the uniform of the day. Treasurer’s Report: Kevin Pa on provided a yearly roll up of the current finances. The Chapter finances are doing well and are projected to con nue to do so. The chapter took in $25k with expenditures of $17k resul ng in a net gain of approximately $7477.00. The Chapter will be moving their banking from Chase to America’s Credit Union (ACU) so it will be more convenient to make deposits. Chase only has one local branch whereas ACU has many in the area. Dave Shell proposed the mee ng be adjourned. All said Aye.
Page 2
Mee ng adjourned: 1030 in prepara on for the bi‐monthly mee ng and fes vi es. Respec ully Submi ed: Paul M. Bagshaw, Chapter XVI Secretary.
Chapter XVI SFA
William R. Card Chapter
Mee ng Minutes October 11, 2014
Call to Order: Chapter President Dave Shell called the mee ng to order at 11:07 at the 1st SFG(A) Regimental Mess. Pledge of Allegiance was conducted. Opening Prayer: Chapter Chaplain Butch Hall gave the opening prayer. Dave Shell led the Chapter in singing the Ballad of the Green Berets in lieu of a recorded version. Very well done on short no ce without song sheets! Members Present: Dave Shell, Eric Heid, Kevin Pa on, Paul Bagshaw, Dennis Guiller, Carey Pennington, Nick Marvais, Walt Hetzler, Jim Lessler, Jim Beisley, Bryan Rowe, Willi Lindner, Bud Lawson, Roy Sayer, Jay Lathrop, Alex Holt, Bill Gates, Tim Appel, Mark Nelson, Mark Colbert, David Diaz, Wayne Karvonen, Mike Cassidy, John Gebbie, Steve Kubiszewski, Keith Pang. Wives and guests present: Tammy Pa on, her sister Wanda and her Mom and Dad, Lynda Hetzler, Elain Lessler, Steph Gates, Yoko Karvonen, Joy Cassidy, Inge Gebbie, Virginia Dickison. Great Showing Ladies! Welcome and President’s report: Dave Shell began the mee ng asking if the members had received the newsle er and reminded them that it was the 2014 SFA award winning newsle er. He recognized Walt Hetzler for his being nominated and the recipient of the SFA St. Phillip Neri Award (Gold) and John Armezzani (Silver). Dave also made men on of the passing of BF Burnham. Dave updated everyone on the website and the distribu on list. He is working with the vendor to fix the glitches in the mail system and expects the system to be fixed with the next couple of weeks. Sick Calls: Dan Perry has been ill but is at home. He is hoping to be able to receive guest in a couple of months. Ed Booth is currently at his home recovering as well. Bob Ferguson is feeling poorly and is currently bedridden. Treasurer’s Report: Kevin Pa on provided a yearly roll up of the current finances. The Chapter finances are doing well and are projected to con nue to do so. The Chapter will be moving their banking from Chase to America’s Credit Union (ACU) so it will be more convenient to make deposits. Chase only has one local branch whereas ACU has many in the area. Unless there were any objec ons, Dave and Kevin departed to Dupont at the conclusion of the mee ng to begin opening the account. Past (Old) Business: The Chapter sponsored a plaque for Dae Han Park of 3rd Bn. It will be placed at C/3/1 SFG(A) in recogni on of the building being named in his honor. The Chapter procured $15k for Menton this year from the SF Charitable Trust. Present (New) Business: The Chapter is assis ng GSB in a raffle for Menton this year. The prize is two ckets to the Seahawks game against their rival San Francisco. The Chapter is also dona ng $250 for food, beverages, etc for the game. The raffle will have only 500 ckets sold at $25 apiece. Chapter 47 is hos ng the SF Conven on in Portland this year from 5‐10th of June 2015. Chapter 16 will assist in the endeavor. Unfortunately the conven on conflicts with the 1st Group reunion that will be occurring at the same me, but on the east coast. It has been proposed that we begin a professional directory on our website. This will be a paid adver sement site but will be ve ed by the members in order to keep riff raff from providing sub‐standard services to the chapter members. Exact details will be worked with the website designer. A deep clean has been proposed to keep the Regimental Mess in p top shape. The proposal is to determine what it would cost a professional cleaning crew to provide the service then offer that money to an FRG from one of the ba alion’s to conduct the cleaning and earn some money for their FRG. More to follow. Auburn’s Veterans Day Parade will be on 8 November. Any members who want to march in the parade are asked to link up at the Athena on Main Street at 1000 hours with a start me of 1100 hours. The SF Brotherhood motorcycle club has been recruited to join the parade this year. Uniform for the event will be the green blazer. Inclement weather uniform will be provided as necessary. Menton No‐host Social will be on 8 December. Chapter 16 will sponsor this event with food and beverages with a $2000 dona on. This Social will serve as the December bi‐monthly chapter mee ng. For the Good of the Order: Bill Gates suggested that we request an unclassified brief from the Group. Most of the chapter members have been out of the net for a while and would like to get a brief so that they can remain in touch with current opera ons. Carey Pennington stated the Coffee Stop made approximately $1300 this year. Next year and the year a er, the event should be more profitable due to being there on the weekend. He also made men on that this year there are some important gun law measures on the ballot… “So if you have a gun and many of you do, read the proposed legislature and vote!” Kevin Pa on let all know that if they were around during the 50th Anniversary to sign the banner and con nue to make history. Bud Lawson inquired about his brick and he was informed that it was a First in Asia issue and to seek informa on from Dennis Downey or others in the board of directors. Butch Hall was handing out shirts that were previously ordered. Kevin Pa on made a final announcement reques ng people keep in their prayers for Barbie Coleman, MSG Mark Coleman’s (KIA Afghanistan) wife, who is figh ng Leukemia. Closing Prayer: Chapter Chaplain Butch Hall gave the closing prayer.
Page 3
Mee ng adjourned: 11:43 followed by a plen ful potluck and socializing. Respec ully Submi ed: Paul M. Bagshaw, Chapter XVI Secretary.
Pastor Butch’s Corner The world’s greatest ghtrope walker; Charles Blondin who on June 30, 1859, became the first man to walk on a ghtrope across Niagara Falls. There were over 25,000 people who watched as he walked the 1,100 feet suspended 160 feet above the raging waters. He worked without a net or safety harness of any kind. Over the next few day he walk across many mes. Once he walked across on s lts; another me he took a chair and a stove with him and sat down midway across, cooked an omelet, and ate it. And you may also recall he even carried his manager across riding piggyback. On the last day; he pushed a wheelbarrow across loaded with 350 pounds of cement! He then asked the crowd if they thought he could push a man across si ng in a wheelbarrow. One man was who was screaming very loud was asked by Blondin: “Sir, do you think I could safely carry you; across in this wheelbarrow?” “Yes, of course the man said.” “Well Get in,” Blondin smiled. The man quickly vanished. That man’s ac ons; clear reveals how easy it is to say you believe but it is something else en rely to get into the wheelbarrow. Our ques on is are we willing to get into Jesus wheelbarrow or are we just will to giving Him lip service! Serving the Lord means ge ng in the wheelbarrow...
J. K. Wright Memorial Breakfast, September 6, 2014 The following members and guests were in a endance: Alvin & Jackie Li le, Ramiro Alonso, Nick Marvais, Walt & Lynda Hetzler, Mike & Joy Cassidy, Wayne & Yoko Karvonen, Ed & Erma Booth, Roland Nuqui, Johnny & Kim King, Glen Craig, Frank Hartley, Butch Hall, O o Liller, Bob Head, and Jim & Elaine Lessler. Chapter 43 members were in a endance: Jerry Hampton (IMO Hugh Hubbard), Stacie Hampton and James & Duyen Yu‐B. Chapter 29 members present: Abner Williams.
Dinosaurs Luncheon, September 26, 2014 The following members and guests were in a endance: Ed & Erma Booth, Richard Reilley, Glen Craig, Jim & Elaine Lessler, Johnny King, Walt & Lynda Hetzler, and Mike & Joy Cassidy.
J. K. Wright Memorial Breakfast, October 4, 2014
The following members and guests were in a endance: Nick Marvais (IMO Eulis Presley), John Gebbie, Glen Craig, Paul Sabin, Ramiro Alonso, Jim Brown, Jim & Elaine Lessler (IMO Dan Kayonan), Walt & Lynda Hetzler, Butch Hall, Rob Wekell, Stephen Durfee, Kurt Kagers, Johnny & Kim King, Dennis Guiler, and Bud Lawson. Chapter 43 members were in a endance: Skip E nger, James & Duyen Yu‐B, and Mike Sherlock.
Yu‐B and his wife graciously brought a birthday cake for those who had birthdays this month. We celebrated Walt Hetzler and Jim Lessler's birthdays.
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West Virginia Road Dedicated to Former Moore County Resident
Master Sergeant Joe Alderman
Posted: Sunday, September 14, 2014 12:15 am
On Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 in Bradshaw, W.Va., a por on of Route 83 will be dedicated as “MSGT Joe C. Alderman Memorial Road.”
Master Sgt. Joe C. Alderman “accomplished more by accident than many achieve on purpose” one eulogizer said at his funeral in 1994.
Family friend Jack Bailey, of Belcher Mountain, W.Va., was instrumental in encouraging the West Virginia Legislature to pass the resolu on in
honor of Alderman.
Alderman enlisted in the Army a er his high school gradua on, serving as a scout in the first Airborne Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Team
in Germany from 1959 un l 1961. He began his Special Forces career in 1962, comple ng engineer training, followed by deployment to
Okinawa to serve in the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Alderman’s combat experiences included serving in Vietnam 10 consecu ve years from 1963‐1972 as a member of Special Forces detachments
as light weapons NCO, heavy weapons NCO, engineer sergeant, intelligence sergeant, Project Delta, and MACV SOG as a reconnaissance team
leader and adviser.
While serving in Project Delta in 1966, he helped to establish MACV Recondo School by wri ng lesson plans and serving as an instructor
between combat opera ons. He wrote a training manual for the Vietnamese Delta Reconnaissance Unit. He served as Recon team leader
Blackjack A‐504 Waterborne Opera ons.
Alderman re red from the Army in November 1980 a er serving as the First Sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Company of 5th
Special Forces Group (Airborne). He was inducted as a Dis nguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment on 13 August 2008. He was also
inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 1998.
Alderman’s awards and honors include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Soldier’s Medal, six Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal, five Air
Medals, the Joint Service Medal, six Army Commenda on Medals and three Purple Hearts.
Other awards from his me in Vietnam include the Special Service Medal for Heroism, the Cross of Gallantry with a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars
and the Armed Forces Honor Medal.
Linda Alderman, as well as daughter, Shay, and son, Patrick, are planning to a end the dedica on, along with other members of the family,
many of Alderman’s high school classmates and military buddies.
The ceremony, with a 21‐gun salute, will be held at the Riverview High School in Bradshaw, W.V., not far from where the Alderman’s grew up.
To Defeat ISIS, Change the Balance on the Ground
G e n e r a l ( R e t . ) M o h a m m e d A l ‐ S a m a r a e Posted on October 5, 2014
Page 5
Recently in this magazine, I advocated for the United States to begin a focused opera on to rejuvenate and empower a new “Sunni Awakening” in Iraq. Just a few days a erward, the U.S. Air Force and air forces from five Arab na ons launched the first strikes against ISIS forces inside Syria. The majority of Americans know that military ac on against ISIS is necessary. Though commi ed to a campaign to degrade ISIS from the air, the White House also remains commi ed to keeping U.S. troops—other than advisers—out of Iraq. I s ll believe a decisive victory against ISIS in Iraq cannot be won without the United States changing the balance of force and momentum on the ground. A flabby and corrupted Iraqi army, organized since the U.S. departure to protect the sectarian interests of the Shia majority, has been unable to turn back the de of ISIS since the beginning of the group’s June offensive. Shia mili as, be er trained, organized, and mo vated, have been more successful in holding back ISIS than the Iraqi army. Unfortunately, they take their orders from Iran or Hezbollah, not Baghdad. Reportedly these mili as are even mimicking ISIS brutality against Sunnis in some places. In its ini al retreat, the Iraqi army was doing what their government and leaders ordered they be trained and instructed to do: Defend the sectarian interests of the Shia majority government. They saw no reason to defend Sunni Iraq. As it stands, they have li le stake, incen ve, or will to venture back into Iraq’s Sunni territory, let alone fight hard to recapture it. Iranian forces have bolstered their defensive posi ons in eastern Iraq around Shia holy sites, but seem to be doing li le in the way of retaking the ini a ve. Meanwhile, ISIS is now just ten miles outside of Baghdad. The enemy is at the gates. There can be no decisive victory against ISIS unless the balance of power is shi ed and reversed on the ground, not just from the air. In order to change the balance of power on the ground in Iraq, especially if it wants to avoid pu ng its own troops in, the United States and its allies will have to twist Baghdad’s arm to reorganize and restructure its military into a serious figh ng force. The Iraqi government, under Iranian influence, will resist any kind of measures they believe may strip Shia of their gains over the past decade. The U.S., however, can and must press Iraq to reform its military structure. It is necessary to preserve Iraq and will have a great impact on the outcome of the war against ISIS. There will be resistance, but without these changes, the air strikes will be useless no ma er how long they go on because condi ons on the ground—which have allowed the success of ISIS in the first place—will not change. First, there must be an aggressive restructuring and reorganizing of all of the units that surrendered, abandoned their posts, or inexplicably lost ba les over the past three months. It should begin with an inves ga on into commanders who neglected their duty to defend the country and move down the chain of command. Current and former senior Iraqi commanders from all na onal stakeholder groups who are professional and loyal to the military and their country should be the core of this process. It should review who was ordered to do what and by whom. Only a reconstructed Iraqi army will be able and willing to take up the fight against ISIS. The current army is simply a Baghdad mili a, not an effec ve military force capable of a viable offensive. Any other country which claims to have a professional military would do the same in similar circumstances. Second, mili as, Shia or Sunni, must be eliminated and their members integrated into the na onal military structure. ISIS has been successful because it has shown its ability to maneuver and coordinate its massed forces. It has a command and control structure—and so far one that works be er than the combined Iraqi forces facing it. For there to be one Iraq, there must be one Iraqi military that is answerable to central authority, not many smaller mili as and forces with their own interests, chain of command, and sectarian agendas roaming the countryside. Third, the United States was previously successful against extremists in Iraq by partnering with Iraqi Sunni allies whose power and authority was being challenged by outside extremists from al Qaeda. A very similar dynamic exists today with ISIS over the same terrain. America and Iraq must find a way to work with tribes and residents of western Iraq and liberated towns and ci es to establish a new “Awakening force” under coordina on and coopera on with the Iraqi Army to hold their ground and provide support to Iraqi forces countera acking ISIS. In order to achieve a new “Sunni Awakening” to deprive ISIS of its base in Iraq and turn the de against them, America will have to force Baghdad to finally grant Sunni leaders a real role in the Baghdad government and address Sunni grievances as an incen ve to expel ISIS from their territory. An air campaign alone will not be able to achieve this. America and its allies recognize that ISIS is a threat to them and to regional stability in the Middle East and the na onal sovereignty of Iraq and Syria. The American people understand that military ac on against ISIS is necessary. The debate as to whether the United States should send ground troops to Iraq, despite the White House’s current posi on, should and will con nue. Regardless if U.S. troops reenter Iraq, there can be no decisive victory against ISIS unless the balance of force and momentum of a ack is shi ed and reversed on the ground, not just from the air. It is vital that the Iraqi military be whipped into shape, mili as are reined in, and the U.S. and its allies build on previous success by re‐igni ng a “Sunni Awakening” in Anbar if it wants to change condi ons on the ground. This is important to victory against ISIS if the U.S. does put “boots on the ground” in Iraq—and absolutely vital to victory if it does not.
General (Ret.) Mohammed Al‐Samarae was a career Iraqi army officer, serving in various command posi ons, culmina ng with
command of the 6th Division of the Iraqi Army in 2006. A graduate of the First Military Academy (Baghdad) and the Iraq Joint Air Defense
College, he has lectured at the U.S. Air Force War College and provided counterinsurgency training to U.S. military commanders at JRTC and NTC.
He is a decorated veteran of the Iran‐Iraq War, Gulf War, and Iraq War. He is now an American ci zen living in Virginia where he runs his own
consultancy, General’s Experience.
Page 6
Green Berets Reportedly Cri cize Performance of Afghan Troops
Afghan Na onal Army soldiers load their belt‐fed machine gun during a mock a ack on an enemy's stronghold during a military training exercise at Kabul Military
Training Center, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini) Fox News | Oct 28, 2014
Elite Army troops have disparaged the figh ng capability of Afghan troops to military inves gators probing the deaths of five soldiers in a friendly fire incident earlier this year, according to a published report.
The Washington Times claims that several Green Berets have described how Afghan soldiers have refused to fight and hidden among trees and behind rocks when coming under fire. The cri cisms came to light on the same day that the last unit of U.S. Marines in Afghanistan concluded its combat mission, handing the base known as Camp Leatherneck to Afghan troops. The comments by the Green Berets were made to inves gators from U.S. Central Command during discussions of an incident from this past June, when five U.S. soldiers and an Afghan sergeant were killed when a B‐1 bomber mistakenly dropped two bombs on their posi on during a ba le against Taliban forces in southern Afghanistan. Among the other complaints against Afghan soldiers the Times reports as being men oned in the inves ga ve file are inability to fight at night and inability to take the lead in clearing villages controlled by the Taliban. The paper also reports that the Green Beret team leader, a captain, claimed that the Afghan Na onal Army (ANA) had provided fewer troops than requested for the June mission, adding that this was not the first me that had happened.
A er the deadly bombing, the Times reports, a Green Beret instructed Afghan soldiers to set up a perimeter, only for them to hide behind a rock. The reported experiences of the Green Berets stand in stark contrast to claims made by the Pentagon that Afghan forces will be ready to take the lead in the fight against the Taliban a er the departure of most U.S. troops by the end of this year. The Defense Department's most recent Afghanistan progress report, released in April of this year, states that the ANA "made impressive progress, and maintained its tac cal overmatch over the insurgency." Gen. John F. Campbell, commander of the Interna onal Security Assistance Force told reporters Oct. 2 that the ANA had "taken on the security mission from last June of ‘13. They had it mostly en rely by themselves for the summer of ‘14. I think they've done very well, suppor ng both the [Afghan presiden al elec on] and through some of the major events." However, the report also said that Afghan forces had not been able to last more than several days in the field.
7 EASY STEPS THAT GUARANTEE YOU TO PASS ANY SOF SELECTION
September 7, 2014 Leo Jenkins So you’ve seen some cool videos on YouTube and have decided to sign a mul ‐year contract commi ng you to a lifestyle of cool‐guy‐dom. What could go wrong? A er all, you played sports in high school and your coach thought you were cool so you shouldn’t have any problems passing BUD/S, RASP or SFAS. You have washboard abs and a hot girlfriend. I’m going to help you out here a li le. Step 1 ‐ Know what you are ge ng yourself into. For starters, understand that the movies you grew up in awe of completely lied to you. Being in a special opera ons unit is, in no way, a series of cool explosions, gun fights and airborne opera ons. It is one of the most demanding (emo onally, mentally and physically) careers on earth. If your thoughts are on the day that you get to pin on that shiny Trident or don that special beret, you absolutely don’t belong. Being a part of any of these organiza ons is about more than the color of your hat or the pre y decora ons on your jacket. Those concerned with the gli er and gold seldom make the cut and when they do, slip through and don’t last long. Life here is tremendously difficult. The pain doesn’t end at gradua on. I can say with 100% honesty that it is harder to stay in Ranger Ba alion
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than it is to get there. I can’t speak for every unit in SOF but an 80 hour work week was not uncommon for the men of the 75th Ranger Regiment. I can’t emphasize this enough: That is NOT 80 hours a week of glamourous ac vi es.
Step 2 ‐ Do your homework I’ve been asked countless mes by young men what they should do to prepare for these various selec ons. The general expecta on is that I would men on a training program. Most are a li le perplexed when I begin asking various history ques ons. “You want to be a PJ? Who is Jason Cunningham? Who is Rob Disney?” “No? You don’t know? You should!” You are gung‐ho about being a Ranger? What is the first stanza of the Creed? I honestly don’t give a shit if you can do fi y pull ups and run a five minute mile, if you don’t care enough about the lineage of the unit that you are aspiring to join you are missing the point. If you wanted to join a fraternity your freshman year of college, you would have to know everything about the history of the organiza on. Study the men and the missions that came before your me. Know why the unit exists and those who have made the legacy that you want to be a part of. On top of that, put in the effort to find out what the bare minimum requirements are for the selec on course you will be a ending. There is not a single entry‐level SOF course that doesn’t have their standards widely published. If you don’t know what the standard is, how do you expect to exceed it?
Step 3 ‐ Dominate humbly Like I said before, the movies lied to you. You are not trying out to be a one man wrecking crew. You are applying to be a part of a team. The cadre that will be punishing you day and night for weeks or months on end are doing so because, if you pass, you will be their best friend’s problem. You will be sent to be the subordinate of the brother that your current instructor le the line to come and teach. There is no place for your arrogance. So you got the fastest me on the O‐course today, so what. Nothing that you do is going to impress that instructor more than your humility.
Step 4 ‐ Be the grey man I understand this may seem like a li le bit of a contradic on from step three but it actually goes with it. You don’t have to be the best at anything, just don’t be the worst. In fact, don’t ever be in the bo om 50%. Don’t ever hold anything back (If you are giving anything less than your personal 100%, then you are wrong!) but don’t ever broadcast your accomplishments. If you make it to gradua on and the cadre don’t know your name, then you are doing a few things correctly.
Step 5 ‐ Ask ques ons, show respect From now un l the me your selec on starts you have an opportunity to seek out guys who have been there and benefit from their knowledge and experience. Don’t be an idiot and ask them what it’s like to kill someone. When you are exposed to a former member of SOF, in person or online, be respec ul and understand that it is a very small community. Your reputa on starts the day you start popping off at the mouth about how you are going to be a SEAL, Ranger, PJ, MARSOC Ninja, etc. The community is not only ny, the alumni are very well connected with each other.
Step 6 ‐ Be prepared to fail It doesn’t ma er how amazing you think you are, you will fail at some point. That is the point. If the cadre no ces that you are really good at push up you will do them un l you can’t do them anymore, regardless if you can do 40 or 100. Their job is to make you fail. The point is to see how you handle that failure. How you respond to that adversity is really what they are looking for. Can you get up and lead men when you have been knocked down countless mes? Can you brush off those failures and con nue to lead the way? That is what is important, not your six pack.
Step 7 ‐ Never, ever ever ever EVER give up Seriously. Don’t. The guy next to you is hur ng just as bad. His life sucks right now but he isn’t giving up and if he does, guess what? You should be elevated by your strength, not discouraged by his weakness. People laugh when they ask about how to pass and I say, “Don’t quit.” A lot of it comes down to that. You are going to get kicked, you are going to be red, cold, and hungry. You are going to feel alone and exhaust‐ed. You will be humiliated and broken. Don’t quit. Your body will follow your mind. Set the inten on before you start that you would rather die than quit. That is the only type of person that belongs in the special opera ons community.
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ON THE LOOKOUT: The Outrage of ‘Stolen Valor’
Wri en by Andrew Linn on September 29, 2014
In 1998, a book tled Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Genera on Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History was published. Wri en by B.G. Burke (a Vietnam Veteran) and Glenna Whitley, this book discusses and refutes the various myths of Vietnam (e.g. war crimes, homeless veterans). Stolen Valor also discusses the many fraudulent veterans of the Vietnam era, who not only have advanced the stereotype of Vietnam Veterans as drug addicts or mentally unstable individuals, but have tarnished those veterans who actually did serve in Vietnam. It should be noted that a majority of Vietnam Veterans would embark on successful careers upon returning home.
Aside from discussing the myths, stereotypes, and frauds, Burke discusses the me he spent serving in Vietnam. He also discusses life a er Vietnam, from a college course with an an ‐war professor to a job interview resul ng in the prospec ve employer throwing his resume in the trash a er sta ng that he would not be hiring any Vietnam Veterans. Other experiences include people presuming he was mentally unstable since he had served in Vietnam, and his encounters with people claiming to be Vietnam Veterans.
Such experiences led him to do research on the ma er, thus resul ng in Stolen Valor. The people Burke (and Whitley) have exposed consist of those who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War but were sta oned somewhere else to those claiming to have served in the Army but actually served in the Coast Guard. Actor Brian Dennehy is just one example. A Marine Corps veteran, he claims to have been wounded while serving in Vietnam, but it turns out that his injury was actually a knee injury from playing football while being sta oned in Japan.
The various myths and stereotypes Burke and Whitley discuss consist of the following: homeless veterans, drug addic ons, minori es or lower‐class ci zens being dra ed, the age and educa onal status of Vietnam Veterans, PTSD, Agent Orange, and war crimes.
Stolen Valor also discusses how many fraudulent veterans are able to deceive the public. Methods include purchasing license plates and war medals (such items can be bought at flea markets and other places), doctoring their service records, and coming up with fantas c stories. Thus, not only have they fooled the public, but they also have scammed the government. This is because 1) as previously men oned, they doctored their service records; and 2) the Department of Veterans Affairs does not bother to fully examine the service records of those claiming to have served in Vietnam (and state that they were trauma zed). In the la er instance, I think this problem can be solved by placing the Department of Veterans Affairs under the Department of Defense. Thus, not only will there no longer be two separate workloads, but those working in the Veterans Affairs Division (a suitable name should it become part of the Defense Department) will have access to the complete records of veterans (e.g. DD‐214). Doing so will root out anyone who lies or exaggerates their military service. Of course, it isn’t just the Vietnam War being exploited by fraudulent veterans. America’s recent wars have also been plagued by fakes and phonies (many of whom have been exposed). Which is why the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans groups, and other organiza ons need to verify all individuals who claimed to have served their country.
America has been deceived by these frauds for too long. It is me to let them know that they aren’t deceiving us anymore.
Arlington Na onal Cemetery
The U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) conducted a wreath laying this a ernoon to honor President John F. Kennedy and his commitment to U.S. Special Forces and the Green Berets. Laying the wreath is the Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh, Brig. Gen. Darsie D. Rogers, and William Kennedy Smith.
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101 Soldierly thoughts from 1997 Mark Smith is a re red Special Forces Major. He was captured in the ba le of Loch Ninh in Vietnam. He had 38 holes in his body when captured, back broken, lung messed up, bowel penetrated, and other wounds. He was held in a camp in Cambodia un l released. He was an officer, but he was a sergeant first as he was field commissioned to the officer posi on. Having been an infantryman and a sergeant in Vietnam I see the wisdom of the following. Thank you ex‐POW Maj. Mark Smith. Mark is a recipient of the DSC. ONE HUNDRED and ONE SOLDIERLY THOUGHTS By Major Mark A. Smith Sr. (ret) 5/5/97 Note: SOME DECADES AGO, A FRIEND IN THE PENTAGON ASKED ME TO JOT DOWN A FEW SOLDIERLY THOUGHTS. DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS I ADDED A COUPLE, BUT DELETED NONE OF THE ORIGINALS. THEY MAY NOT BE MODERN OR POLITICALLY CORRECT, BUT THEY DID MAKE THE ROUNDS. I STAND BY THEM TODAY. MARK 1. Never accept an officer as competent based on his source of commission. 2. Your right to influence the ba lefield is diminished in ra o to the distance you are from the actual arena of ac on. 3. The ba lefield selects its own Generals. No school or board can replace it. 4. Never call fire on your own troops, unless you stand among them. 5. Leaders are indeed born and no military school can provide what God did not. 6. Equipment procurement will always be compromised by not only being made by the lowest bidder, but by a emp ng to make it mul ‐func onal. 7. A emp ng to lighten the soldier’s load by diminishing the weight of any given weapon, will always result in shorter range and less firepower. 8. Excellent staff officers rarely make good ba lefield commanders. 9. Outstanding commanders will surround themselves with excellent staff officers. 10. Never make command a reward for good staff work. 11. Discipline began its decline with the demise of the swagger s ck and centralized promo on boards. 12. Outstanding NCO’s may make good officers. But, rarely will a riffed officer make a good NCO. 13. Atheists will never be trusted by their troops on the ba lefield. 14. Women can do many things men do, except for a few days every month. 15. Going through the change, has nothing to do with the female senior officer’s uniform. 16. Sexual harassment is a two‐lane road. 17. Soldiers tell the truth about good and bad commanders. Their opinion is the ul mate evalua on of an officer. 18. No commander was ever hated for being too hard. But, many are detested for trying to cul vate that image, without substance. 19. The maximum effec ve range of any weapon is that range at which the individual soldier can hit his target and not an inch further. 20. Pre y females rarely feel harassed by male counterparts. 21. Plain‐looking female soldiers are usually the best performers and fit in. 22. Endurance should be judged on the bayonet assault course and not on a marathon run. 23. How far soldiers can run in shorts is unimportant, compared to how far they can speed march with full equipment. 24. Pregnant females are overweight soldiers. Thus, the US Army Weight Control program is not based on equal enforcement of the rules. 25. Tears on the cheeks of any soldier, regardless of gender, are only acceptable on the death of a rela ve or comrade and when “Old Glory” passes by. 26. Pregnancy is self‐inflicted, thus abor ons should be paid for by the soldier, as a non line of duty procedure. 27. Soldiers are not ‘sent into combat,” they are led. 28. Your worth as an officer should never be judged on how well you ran with a football in college. 29. West Point is a place of learning, as is any college. Both produce two types of officer; Good and Bad. 30. The computer will never be able to judge the content of a soldier’s spirit, as his Sergeant can. 31. Esprit De Corps cannot be a ained at the Ba alion picnic or Sports Day. It must be ins lled by good leadership and belief in one’s fellow soldiers. 32. No new weapon or tac c will ever ins ll the same fear in the enemy that one Infantryman with a bayonet can. 33. He who drinks at lunch is a drunken soldier in the a ernoon. 34. No soldier is so smart that his physical deficiencies can be overlooked in the Infantry. 35. Pain ng rocks and serving drinks to officers, have never been soldierly func ons. And golf is not a required skill for officers. 36. Consolida on of all administra ve personnel at ba alion level has eroded accountability and proper repor ng. 37. Anyone who thinks that future ba lefields will not contain Infantrymen knows nothing about war. 38. Indecision kills more soldiers than any wrong decision. One can command his way out of a wrong decision. 39. The only mission of the Infantry Soldier is to kill the enemy. “Humanitarian Missions" are someone else’s job. 40. Only the Infantry and Armor can gain ground. Only the Infantry can hold it alone.
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41. Special Forces are not Rangers or Light Infantry and should never be employed as such. 42. Rangers are light infantry and are not Special Forces. 43. Victory is not a limited objec ve. There is no other reason to engage an enemy, except victory. 44. Never shower or apply a er‐shave and cologne, forty eight hours prior to a night a ack. 45. Sweat is the true lubricant of the Infantry figh ng machine. 46. No American Soldier can be managed to victory. He must be led. 47. The only color in the U.S. Army is green. 48. Use of chemical weapons and biological weapons are a crime against humanity. 49. Not training your soldiers to protect themselves from them is a crime against your own troops. 50. Any tac c wri en in a book is known to your enemies. 51. If short hair is truly a ma er of hygiene and discipline, then all soldiers must have it. 52. No member of a soldier’s family is more important than the mission. 53. No soldier can accomplish his mission if the Army neglects his family. 54. Any soldier who sleeps with another soldier’s wife or lover cannot be trusted on the ba lefield and should be shunned. 55. Officers are more likely to wear unauthorized awards than any NCO or Private. 56. Any officer who claims he is accep ng an individual award for the en re unit should allow his soldiers to wear it. 57. There can be no quota for awards. 58. Any award for Valor is of more value to the Army than any school diploma or cer fica on. 59. Heroism cannot be taught. But, cowardice is a communicable disease. 60. The machine gun is too important a weapon to be used as a tool for punishing poor soldiers. 61. Precision weapons will jam, if the Commander demands communal cleaning. 62. No officer should be given a command, because, he needs one for his career. 63. No officer should be denied a command, because, he already had one. 64. The state of the Army can be evaluated by how its soldiers look in uniform, at any airport in the world. 65. No reporter can be trusted with opera onal plans. A reporter who reveals opera onal plans is a traitor to his country. 66. A combat veteran of any war should be respected by soldiers. 67. American soldiers do not lose wars. Leaders lose wars. 68. What a soldier saw with his own eyes, cannot be ignored or changed by higher headquarters. 69. If Special Forces are not assigned strategic missions, they are being misused. 70. The “Hummer” is a vehicle and is the only thing of that name allowed in the Infantry. 71. If you wish to learn about guerrilla warfare, study Francis Marion and not Westmoreland or Giap. 72. The one night you don’t dig in, will bring mortars on your posi on. 73. Taking the easy way will always get you killed. 74. Blank ammuni on has no place in Infantry training. 75. The more you restrict Infantrymen possessing live ammuni on, the more accidents you will have. 76. The Air Force and Navy are suppor ng arms. 77. Intelligence Officer is usually a contradic on in terms. 78. Inclement weather is the true Infantryman’s ally. 79. There is no special duty so important, that it takes the Infantry Soldier away from his squad. 80. Commanders who use the “Off Limits” authority to deny sex to combat soldiers will have a high V.D. rate. 81. A Commander’s morals are his own and cannot be imposed on his soldiers. 82. Chaplains must present themselves when the soldier has me, not because they have a schedule. 83. An officer must be judged on his ability and not on how many coffees his wife has a ended. 84. Senior officers who allow discussions about a brother officer, not present, are not honorable men. 85. A Commander who bad‐mouths his predecessor will never be truly respected. 86. Equal opportunity is guaranteed by the law and does not require a separate staff. 87. If a Sergeant Major suggests a unit watch, he is the supplier. 88. The quality of food went down, with the ini a on of the consolidated mess. 89. No NCO or Warrant Officer outranks a Second Lieutenant. 90. Any officer who does not listen to NCO’s and Warrant Officers is a fool. 91. If you wish your subordinates to call you by your first name, go sell shoes. There is no place for you in the Army. 92. Any Army man who sneers at a Marine for being sharp and well turned out is no soldier. 93. Any Infantryman who must call higher headquarters before engaging the enemy has a fool for a commander. 94. Soldiers respect leaders worth emula ng. They cannot be “ordered” to respect anyone.
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95. No man who refused to serve his country in war should be elected or appointed over men and women being sent to fight. 96. The soldier must obey the orders of all those elected or appointed over him. 97. The “leadership genes” in famous American military families usually become weaker as the genera ons roll by. 98. A soldier should not be denied the right to wear his uniform anywhere in America, including The White House. 99. The only truly unique headgear is the one the Army was forced to authorize. All others are cheap copies. 100. There is only one reason to join the Army and that is to serve the Country. 101. If a soldier says he hates combat, he is in the wrong profession. ABOVE ALL, IF YOU ARE NOT INFANTRY OR IN DIRECT COMBAT, YOU ARE SUPPORT! "I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my le and only a few on my right. I will hold." ‐‐1st. Lt. Cli on B. Cates, Navy Cross, 2 Dis nguished Service Crosses, (later Commandant), USMC, July 19, 1918 commanding 96 Company, 6th Marines, near the French town of Soissons. "Casual es: many, Percentage of dead: not known, Combat efficiency: we are winning." ‐‐Colonel David M. Shoup, USMC, MOH, (later Commandant) Tarawa, 21 November 1943. Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share. ‐‐Captain J.E. "Ned" Dolan, USMC (Ret.) Platoon Leader E/2/7, Korean War We fight not for glory, nor for riches, nor for honour, but only and alone for Freedom, which no good man lays down but with his life. ‐‐Declara on of Arbroath, Scotland, 1320 In the end more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free. —Edward Gibbon Government is the great fic on, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. ‐Frederic Bas at, French
Economist (1801‐1850)
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Chapter XVI Special Forces Associa on Quartermasters Store
The Quartermasters Store has Special Forces Crest Uniform and Blazer Bu ons for Sale. They can replace the Army Dress Uniform or the SF Associa on Blazer Bu ons. They really look sharp. The Bu ons are $5.00 a piece. A set of 4 Large and 6 small are $50.00. If you would like them mailed there is a shipping and handling cost of $4.50. We also have a number of other Items of SF interest.
We also have SF T‐Shirts, hats, jackets, SFA Flashes, SF Door Knockers, Belt Buckles, Money clips and numerous other Items of Special Forces interest.
1st SFG(A) Ar facts
The current 1st SFG(A) Commander is solici ng support from former 1st SFG(A) unit members for dona on of ar facts that could be displayed in the units Regimental Mess area at Fort Lewis. He has his PAO officer working on the project and he is asking for items that could be secured in display cabinets for viewing by guests who use the facility for ceremonies, re rements and other ac vi es. Hank Cramer is planning to donate some uniform items that his dad wore in Vietnam and others from SFA Chapter and First In Asia Associa on are pu ng out feelers to our community. If interested, please contact Major Jason Waggoner at [email protected]
Looking For Historical 10th SFG(A) Items ‐ Assistance Requested ‐ for Group Foyer POCs: SSG Ryan Sabin OR Andy Tyler Public Affairs NCOIC [email protected] 10th SFG (A) 719‐524‐4528 [email protected] We are looking for any historical items and photos that will cover the following areas. I a ached the history outline that we will be following. These items will be used in the HHC foyer and we are trying to tell the 10th SFG(A) story. ‐ 1952‐ Ac va on of 10th SFG (A) ‐ 1953‐ Bad Tolz ‐ 1954‐1955 Authoriza on of the wear of the Green Beret ‐ 1962‐ CPT Roger Pezzelle Trojan Horse Unit Insignia ‐ SF Soldiers opera ng in; western and eastern Europe, clandes ne organiza ons in England, France, Norway, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. ‐ Fort Devens ‐ JOINT ENDEAVOR and PROVIDE COMFORT ‐ Opera on Desert Storm ‐ Panzer Kaserne ‐ Task Force Viking
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I am delighted to invite you to join me in celebra ng the recent publica on of my book.
Berlin was a dangerous place during the Cold War. A preserved piece of
the Wall containing a mural memorializing 146 Germans killed trying to
escape communism stands in stark testament.
As the grand central station of East-West espionage, the city was a play-
ground for all sorts of secret agents. And its place in the history of the 20th
century far outweighs its size. Indeed, 37% of Americans viewed the fall of
the Berlin Wall as the single most important event of the 1980s.
That Wall came down after 28 years because Americans in uniform stood as a bar-
rier to Soviet aggression. The vast majority of those GIs were clearly visible. But a small
‘IN THE EYE OF THE
COLD WAR HURRICANE’
Clandestine commandos of the legendary Green Berets
served east of the Elbe River and behind the Iron Curtain
to confront communism between 1956 and 1984.
Until this year, their role in the Cold
War was unheralded. With the 25th
anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall,
now is a good time to provide them
with long overdue recognition.
Photos courtesy Bob Charest
DETACHMENT A, BERLIN BRIGADE
contingent operated behind the scenes,
not even acknowledged until long after
the Cold War ended. Only this year were
they fully and publicly recognized.
BORN IN THE MID-’50SThough the Status-of-Forces Agreement
signed by all four powers occupying
Berlin prohibited elite forces, each coun-
try had its own prowling the city. It was
10 years after WWII ended, however,
before the U.S. had such a unit formally
in place there.
In August 1956, the elite 10th Special
Forces Group, based in Bad Tolz, Germany,
stationed the secretive 7781 Army Unit
(also known as the 39th Special Forces
Operational Detachment) in West Berlin.
It consisted of six modified detachments
ABOVE: Team 1, Scout Swimmer cadre of Detachment A undergo training in 1974 in Grossenbröde, Germany. They are, back row: Kevin Monahan, Bob Charest, Richard Lahue, Ralph Ormes, Willie Headon and Ron Bruce; front row: John Silk, Ernie Kirk, Frank Midill, Lee Dickerson, Paul Piuisz and Sparky Airhart.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 WWW.VFW.ORG 43
that became part of the Headquarters
Company of the 6th Infantry Regiment.
Each team had six members.
Two years later, the unit was renamed
Detachment A and assigned to the
Headquarters Company of the U.S. Army
Garrison, Berlin. Then in April 1962, it
was attached to the Berlin Brigade. Its
area of operations was primarily that
city, but it could undertake missions
elsewhere in Europe.
“Detachment A was literally in the eye
of the Cold War hurricane,” said Lt. Gen.
Charles T. Cleveland, commanding gen-
eral of the U.S. Army Special Operations
Command.
As an unconventional and classified
outfit of 90 men (a normal tour of duty
was three years), Detachment A carried
out clandestine operations. Originally
operating in small cells, by the late 1960s
it expanded to 12-man “A” teams.
Unit members were as unique as the
U.S. Army ever recruited. Many were
German or East European refugees who
still had families trapped behind the Iron
Curtain. In the early years, a significant
number were WWII vets, too. Hence
they brought much-needed skills along
with knowledge of other nations and lan-
guages to the unit.
TRAINING & TOOLS OF THE TRADE Physical training was wide-ranging and
progressively intense. For instance, win-
ter warfare training in Bavaria consist-
ed of downhill and cross-country skiing
equivalent to extreme skiing.
Specialized demolition training was
required for various targets in Berlin.
Some teammates attended the CIA’s spe-
cialized demo course at Harvey Point,
N.C. Scuba diving was another required
skill. Every month, members made para-
chute jumps staging out of Tempelhof
Air Base in Berlin.
Detachment A participated in NATO
escape and evasion exercises. Exercises
exclusive to Berlin included dead drops,
live drops, primary meetings, surveil-
lance and communications.
Team members trained with the elite
West German Federal Border Guard
and Border Protection Group 9, British
Special Air Service and special police
units. But they also taught an urban
course to other 10th SFG personnel, as
well as SEAL Team 2 based on Crete.
As masters of spy craft, team members
carried items reminiscent of a James
Bond movie. Coal filled with C-4 explo-
sives was used to potentially sabotage
the rail ring surrounding Berlin. One-
shot cigarette-lighter guns, vials filled
with metal shavings for destruction of
turbines and noise-suppressed weapons
for eliminating targets were all part of
the arsenal. The German Walther MPK
9mm SMG that fit in a briefcase was the
weapon of choice. All scuba gear was
German-made, including the one-man
portable decompression chamber.
Every member spoke fluent German
and dressed mostly in authentic German
civilian clothes. They sometimes carried
non-American flash documentation and
identification. Dual passports, or dual
nationalities, were part of the deception.
Adversaries in this potentially dead-
ly game of cat and mouse included the
notorious East German Secret Police
(Stasi), Soviet KGB (Committee for State
Security) and even Spetsnaz (Russian
Special Purpose Forces). Being vigilant
of Soviet surveillance was a given.
The KGB had members under con-
stant watch and possessed dossiers on
everyone in Detachment A. Yet the Green
Berets always deceived their adversaries
into believing they were an exponential-
ly larger force than they really were.
MISSION AND MONUMENTDuring the mid-1970s, the unit’s mission
