The Green Beret Foundation is kicking off SOF Week in Tampa by hosting a HALO Happy Hour for Green Berets, special operations community members, and defense industry professionals and leaders. The event is scheduled for Monday, May 8, 2023, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the American Social Bar & Kitchen. There will be food, beverages, and a raffle. The drawing for the raffle will be held at the event. The Green Beret Foundation will be accepting donations and sponsorships; and will have numerous fun and one-of-a-kind items to be raffled off in support of the Green Beret Foundation. The venue is about 1/3 of a mile or 5 minute walk from the site of SOF Week at the Tampa Convention Center.

America Social Bar & Kitchen
601 South Harbour Island Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33602
Google Map

The Green Beret Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that serves the U.S. Army’s Special Forces by connecting them with the resources they need to succeed in the mission ahead.

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To register for the HALO Happy Hour use the link below:
tinyurl.com/2023halohappyhour

To register for SOF Week use the link below:
SOF Week Registration

COL Keith Nightingale (Ret) is the author of Phoenix Rising: From the Ashes of Desert One to the Rebirth of U.S. Special Operations. The book, published in 2020 by Casemate Publishers, provides a detailed look at Operation EAGLE CLAW. This was a mission by U.S. Army Special Forces, supported by other military forces, to rescue American hostages held in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran.

The hostages were taken in November 1979 by Iranian demonstrators that gained control of the embassy grounds and were held prisoner for months. The rescue attempt by Delta Force was aborted once on the ground in Iran at a staging area – due to maintenance problems the force came up one helicopter short. Tragically, after the mission was aborted, and the rescue force prepared to depart Iran, an aircraft mishap took place killing eight servicemembers.

The failed attempt was an embarrassment for President Jimmy Carter and proved to be a major factor in his defeat in the upcoming presidential election to Ronald Reagan. The aborted hostage rescue prompted a reexamination of America’s special operations capabilities.

This book provides a first person account of the coordination, preparation, and conduct of the hostage rescue mission. Keith Nightingale, as an Army major, was the Deputy Operations Officer for Joint Task Force Eagle Claw. Based on his personal diary the book offers an inside look at the personalities, issues, bureaucratic infighting, coordination, and preparation for the mission as well as the events during and after the mission.

The book follows a logical path: covering the planning, training, execution, and aftermath of the hostage rescue mission. It concludes with a description of post-mission actions and events that would eventually lead to a reorganization of the special operations community.

The author employs a unique format: providing almost standalone vignettes relating to the mission, many only 1-3 pages long. Some of these are entitled: “Inside an RH-53”, “The Agency Men”, “The Truck Option”, “The Navigator”, “The Shrink”, “Cash and Carry”, and many more. This particular style made for an interesting and engaging read.

An important part of the book – at the end – involves the ‘politics’ of the formation of what would become the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The bureaucratic infighting and Pentagon stonewalling of the intent of Congress to increase America’s SOF capability is explained in great detail by Nightingale.

If you are a student of special operations or someone interested in military history then you will find this a worthwhile and interesting read. The book is available on Amazon in hardcover and Kindle format.

Phoenix Rising, by Keith Nightingale, Casemate Publishers, 2020
https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Rising-Hostage-Rebirth-Operations/dp/1612008771/

The annual Special Forces Association convention was not held this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the Special Forces Association (SFA) conducted a ‘virtual convention’ to keep its membership informed on past, current, and future activities. As part of the program the Commanding General for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) addressed the current and former Green Berets during their recent 2020 SFA Virtual International Convention.

In this video, Lieutenant General (LTG) Fran Beaudette speaks of the history and the future for USASOC while highlighting how the SFA can support these efforts. The CG’s comments are preceded by an excellent video produced by USASOC about current and future missions of Army Special Operations Forces.

USASOC Commanding General Comments to Special Forces Association
Special Forces Association, YouTube, August 22, 2020, 16 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQgC0Umits

Green Beret and Paratrooper medics from 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conducted training in April to prepare to support Evans Army Community Hospital and 4th Infantry Division during the Coronavirus pandemic, at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Fort Carson declared a public health emergency March 24th based on multiple confirmed cases in the surrounding communities to help limit the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus while maintaining mission readiness.

The medics took part in training under the SOCRATES program – Special Operations COVID-19 Rapid Assessment, Treatment and Emergency Support. The SOCRATES program ensures all 10th SFG(A) medical personnel with prior medical experience are competent in assessing, treating, and providing contingency critical care and ventilator support to COVID-19 patients in a hospital or field setting. This will help them to sustain life in a contingency event where existing medical resources are exhausted.

“This training is important because it gets our guys out of the battlefield mindset and gets them back into a clinical civilian hospital mindset. Going over things they would see in an intensive care or step-down unit, all places our medics could potentially be force multipliers for the hospital and the local community.

Quote by a senior Special Operations Combat Medic assigned to 10th SFG(A).

The SOCRATES training consists of refresher online training and discussion on the current best practices of COVID-19 as they continue to evolve, patient monitoring, nursing care, pharmacology, basic medical assessment, treatment of patients and triage treatment and procedures. The program culminates with hands on training with COVID-19 relevant medical equipment both organic to military personnel and the equipment civilians operate.

In addition to the SOCRATES training the SF medics also completed critical care course training with the Evans Army Community Hospital education department. The training brought the medics problem-solving skillset one step closer to directly supporting the medical needs in the local community if needed.

The critical care course familiarizes 10th Group personnel with standard operating procedures and special equipment used at the Fort Carson hospital. The course also covered critical care topics in pharmacology and how different medicines relate to COVID-19, acute respiratory failure, and critical care procedures.

10th Group is also supporting the base hospital with their 3D printers. Their equipment is being used to make personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel. (See Facebook video posted by 20th SFGA on April 14, 2020).

To date the number of coronavirus cases in the Fort Carson area have remained well within the capacity of the Evans Army Community Hospital. Aggressive social distancing has been having positive effects on the spread of the virus.

Depending on how the situation plays out, the 10th Special Forces Group medics could have a limited role or an all hands-on deck situation. Either way the SOF medics will be actively supporting the fight against the Coronavirus.

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Editor’s Note: The above article derived from two stories published by 10th SFGA on DVIDS: “10th Special Forces prepares to assist in Carson COVID-19 Fight” (April 7, 2020) and “10th Group Innovation to Assist at Evans Army Community Hospital” (April 9, 2020). Both authored by SFC Charles Crail, 10th SFG(A).

Photo: A Special Forces senior combat medic assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), demonstrates the proper use of the Eagle Impact ventilator as part of the Special Operations COVID-19 Rapid Assessment, Treatment, and Emergency Services (SOCRATES) training. The SOCRATES program prepares 10th SFG(A) medical elements to support Evans Army Community Hospital and 4th Infantry Division during the COVID-19 pandemic. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt.1st Class Steven Alger)

Mike Waltz, a Green Beret, has been elected to serve as a Congressman from Florida’s 6th congressional district. He has had a varied and interesting career. He served in U.S. Army Special for many years to include two tours in Afghanistan.

He is also a book author, Fox News Analyst, and small business owner. Previous jobs saw him working at the policy level at both the Department of Defense and Department of State.

He attended Virginia Military Institute and served for over 21 years in the Army attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Among his decorations are four bronze stars – two for valor. In addition to being a graduate of the Special Forces Qualification Course he was a graduate of the Ranger School.

He understands foreign policy from different perspectives – at ground level through his experience in Special Forces as well as at the policy level. He served as a counterterrorism advisor in the White House and at the Pentagon as a policy director in the Department of Defense during the Bush Administration.

He is also well versed on domestic issues. He co-founded a small business – Metis Solutions – with over 400 employees working in the United States, Europe, and in the Middle East.

As a Fox News contributor Mike Waltz provided his perspective on a regular basis on events around the world. His objective insight was always informative and accurate.

In addition to all of the above Waltz is a book author. Based on his experiences in the White House and the Department of Defense – as well as his time in combat on the ground in Afghanistan – he wrote the book Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret’s Battles From Washington to  Afghanistan (2014).

With his business, government, and military experience he will do well in Congress representing his Florida district in his role as Congressman.

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Read more about Congressman Mike Waltz:
https://michaelwaltz.com

]]> 9034 https://sof.news/video/usajfkswcs-command-brief-2018/ Sat, 20 Oct 2018 11:32:46 +0000 http://www.sof.news/?p=8783 This five-minute long video – entitled USAJFKSWCS Command Brief 2018 – provides an overview of how the U.S. Army trains its SOF soldiers. The United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School is located at Fort Bragg, [...]]]>

This five-minute long video – entitled USAJFKSWCS Command Brief 2018 – provides an overview of how the U.S. Army trains its SOF soldiers. The United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School is located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina with satellite training facilities and courses located across the United States. The Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) school house – known as SWCS – trains and educates Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations Soldiers for their worldwide missions.

www.dvidshub.net/video/634051/usajfkswcs-command-brief

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Video produced by Robert Lindee, USAJFKSWCS, June 11, 2018. Published on October 19, 2018.

]]> 8783 https://sof.news/afghanistan/operation-commando-wrath/ Mon, 01 Oct 2018 19:35:06 +0000 http://www.sof.news/?p=8486 By Brian Morris, SF MSG (Ret) On Monday, October 1, 2018 former Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II received the Medal of Honor for going above and beyond the call of duty on April 6, 2008 while assigned to Special [...]]]>

By Brian Morris, SF MSG (Ret)

On Monday, October 1, 2018 former Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II received the Medal of Honor for going above and beyond the call of duty on April 6, 2008 while assigned to Special Operations Task Force-33 during Operation Commando Wrath in Shok Valley, Afghanistan. [1]

I remember that day well. I was the Air Reaction Force (ARF) team lead for a combined US and Afghan 8-man quick reaction force (QRF) that was flying racetracks above the objective on standby in the event of an emergency. We got the call to go in almost immediately after the initial infil, just after the fighting started and things started to go badly. As we hit the ground I can remember the chill of the ice-cold river water on the valley floor making contact with my feet through my boots. I had the vulnerable feeling that my element was almost completely exposed – the impact of enemy automatic rifle fire could be clearly seen and heard just ahead as we made our way forward towards the fierce fire fight that was raging only several hundred meters up the valley.

When we could no longer move under cover I made the call for my element to set up a fighting position where we could support ODA 3312 which was just up the valley from our position. ODA 3312 was run by their warrant and the Team Sergeant, Master Sergeant James Lodyga. [2] If my memory serves me they were short a team leader due to their detachment commander, then Captain Bob Cusick, having been wounded a month or so prior on the same night that Robert J. Miller earned the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions.

Map: Shok Valley is located in the remote mountainous province of Nuristan – highlighted in red.

ODA 3312 was about 200 meters up the valley from my position and at the base of the steep hills and sheer cliff faces that ODA 3336 was attempting to negotiate down in order to get out of the direct line of enemy fire. Sadly my element lost one of the Afghan Commandos that was attached to my ARF to enemy gunfire in the river that day. I believe that one of ODA 3336’s most trusted and competent interpreters lost his life that day as well . . . I’m pretty sure his name was CK.

One thing is for sure; while there was more than just one ODA on the objective that day, ODA 3336 was without a doubt the most exposed element on the ground. Due to the extreme nature of the terrain, the ODA found themselves – for a substantial portion of the fight – cut off and exposed to a massive amount of sustained enemy fire. The team did not have the luxury of any of the other elements being able to cover their withdrawal as they made their way down a virtual shear cliff.

I can still remember to this day the horribly helpless feeling of listening to Master Sergeant Scott Ford call out over the radio for assistance for his team. You could clearly and distinctly hear the life start to leave his voice as the blood ran out of his body. I was so relieved to find out in the days following that he had survived his gunshot wounds and was expected to live and make a full recovery.

In the end ODA 3336 proved to be almost larger than life on that day with most of the team members receiving Silver Stars for their actions. One event that comes to mind is then Staff Sergeant John Wayne Walding sliding down the cliff with his severed leg held tightly in one arm and clutching his M4 rifle in the other. It was during this time that Staff Sergeant Shurer went above and beyond the call of duty by displaying a level of bravery that is just as deserving as any who have received our nations highest honor in the past.

I can recall being on the radio talking in both UH-60 Blackhawk Medevac birds as they came into a hot LZ in order to guide them under an electric power cable that ran from a generator on one side of the valley to a fortified fighting position on the other side of the valley. Staff Sergeant Shurer saved the lives of a lot of guys that day and he deserves all the honors and accolades that he can get. His actions were no less than heroic and he is a great example of the caliber of men who are serving in SF today.

By the time we got extracted we were all physically and mentally exhausted. Everyone was low on ammo and water, and my team was out of 84 mm recoiless rifle rounds for the Carl Gustaf. After more than 6 hours of fighting in the river bed and the ridge lines, at the end of the day the ODA 3336 JTAC dropped over 20,000 lbs of ordnance onto this giant enemy strong hold. Some of the bombs were so close to our fighting position that boulders the size of Volkswagens came flying off the side of the mountain coming to rest uncomfortably close to our position. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity we consolidated and sat in a defensive perimeter, watching what was left of Shok village smoking and smoldering off in the near distance, waiting for an extraction that almost did not happen.

I can remember the ODA 3336 commander, Captain Kyle Walton, telling me that he received message traffic that there was some inclement weather rolling in and the exfil birds were not sure if they could make it to our extreme altitude under the current weather conditions. To make things worse, we received intelligence that the enemy was regrouping on the other side of the ridge and planning a counter attack on our now exposed position while we waited in PZ posture.

On top of that it was beginning to get dark at the point when about 2/3 of our force had been exfilled out of the valley. The last group of us that remained were starting to contemplate the real possibility that we were not going to make it off the objective on that day and may have to wait for extraction until the next morning at first light.

I distinctly recall Captain Walton and I discussing the possibility of setting up battle positions in the event that we were forced to RON (remain overnight) and we began talking about calling up higher to have them dispatch the C-130 that was sitting on standby at Jalalabad Air Field (JAF) to fly in to conduct a resupply. The resupply would drop ammo, food, water and medical supplies by preplanned parachute door bundles that we had built and propositioned at JAF airfield prior to kick off as a contingency. [3]

In retrospect it’s a good thing those door bundles never got dropped because a member of the B team loaded blue tipped training rounds for the Carl G recoilless rifle in the resupply and had we needed it to defend our position from another wave of enemy contact it would have made a really bad situation even worse.

I can vividly recall the end of that day when the first of 3 or 4 CH-47 sorties ripped through the clouds and landed in the valley to pick up the 90+ Afghan commando Kandak and what remained of ODA 3336, as well as ODA 3312 and the ARF element provided by ODB 3310 [4]. I was on the last bird out of Shok on that day and I can still remember the feeling of relief as the valley began to shrink into the distance as we made our way back to JAF airfield.

Photo caption: Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer conducting a mission in Afghanistan, circa 2006. Photo courtesy of Ronald J. Shurer II.

A lot of guys had their metal put to the test on that day. I am honored to be able to say that I had the privilege of serving with men of such caliber and grit like those displayed by true American hero’s like Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II. I am proud of and will remember those men that were wounded and killed fighting for the guys to their left and right on that day, on a remote and desolate rock in a valley tucked high in the treacherous and unforgiving snow-covered mountains of Eastern Afghanistan.

Congratulations brother; you deserve every honor that you are receiving.

De Oppresso Liber!!!

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Images: All photos provided by U.S. Army news media. Map from Wikipedia (Creative Commons license).

Footnotes:

[1] Special Operations Task Force 33 was a special operations unit in Afghanistan formed with a nucleus of soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group based on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 3rd SFGA has had an essential role in building the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) since 2003. The group has assisted in developing elements of the ANDSF to include ANA Commandos, ANA Special Forces, the Afghan Local Police, and several other police special tactics elements.

[2] ODA is short for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFODA). The twelve-man team is the basic operational element of U.S. Army Special Forces.

[3] Jalalabad Air Field is located in Nangarhar province south of Kunar and Nuristan provinces along the Pakistan border.

[4] ODB is short for Special Forces Operational Detachment Bravo (SFODB). It is a company-level headquarters element that provides C2 for six SFODAs.

References:

Video of Award Ceremony. Former Army Medic Receives Medal of Honor for Valor in Afghanistan, Defense.gov DVIDS, October 1, 2018.
www.dvidshub.net/video/630249/former-army-medic-receives-medal-honor-valor-afghanistan

Video – Staff Sgt. Ronald Shurer : Shok Valley, U.S. Army, December 12, 2018. Shurer describes the events that day for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Author:

Brian Morris is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sergeant. Serving on active duty for over twenty-five years, he spent the majority of his time in service with the Special Forces as a Green Beret. He is a decorated combat veteran who served multiple tours in Afghanistan during the Global War on Terrorism since September 11, 2001. Brian has been deployed all over Africa, Bosnia, Iraq, Kuwait, Korea, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. Brian also taught at the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School and wrote SERE doctrine for the Army Special Forces including the Army Special Operations Forces Resistance and Escape Manual and the US Army Special Forces Personnel Recovery Manual.

Additionally, he is an expert and Master Briefer in anti-terrorism and personal security techniques tactics and procedures. Mr. Morris holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Homeland Security from the American Military University. After retiring from the Army in 2012, he spent a year in Afghanistan working as Counterinsurgency Advisor to the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander. After returning to the United States in 2013 Brian spent several years working as the chief Personnel Recovery advisor for the US Army Special Operations Command.

During this time he wrote his first book on terrorism awareness called the Green Beret Pocket Guide which was published in 2014. After being diagnosed with leukemia in 2015 he took 2 years to fight his way into remission and by 2016 he was back to writing. His second book, SpecOps Shooting, was published in 2016. Brian has also taken on a monthly writing commitment with American Survival Guide Magazine. In 2018 Brian’s third book, SpecOps Bushcrafting, was published. Today, Brian continues to write as well as doing work as a personal security consultant for high risk travel and running a wilderness survival school. He is married and the father of 3 grown and successful children. Brian lives on a small farm in central North Carolina with his wife and their dogs.

http://www.brianmorrispersonalprotectionsolutions.com/

]]> 8486 https://sof.news/special-forces/saber-junction-18/ Fri, 28 Sep 2018 17:21:02 +0000 http://www.sof.news/?p=8470 Members of the 20th Special Forces Group recently took part in Saber Junction 18 – an exercise held at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. The 20th SFGA personnel trained with members of the 1st Territorial Unit Dainava [...]]]>

Members of the 20th Special Forces Group recently took part in Saber Junction 18 – an exercise held at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. The 20th SFGA personnel trained with members of the 1st Territorial Unit Dainava of the Lithuania National Defense Volunteer Force (NDVF) during the month of September 2018. The NDVF is also known as Krasto Apsaugos Savanoriu Pajegos or KASP.

The Saber Junction 18 exercise assesses the readiness of the 173rd Airborne Brigade (based in Italy) to execute land operations with Allied and partner nations. In the exercise scenario the Green Berets of 20th SFGA worked alongside their KASP partners conducting irregular warfare in enemy occupied territory.

Photo caption: Saber Junction 18 – KASP and 20th SFGA await 173rd Paratroopers infiltration into an enemy-held area by airborne operation. Photo 1st Lt Benjamin Haulenbeek; SOCEUR, September 19, 2018.

The mission of the KASP and 20th SFGA was to degrade the enemy’s ability to fight and to support the entry of the 173rd into the area of operations. A 20th SFGA team sergeant said:

“Our primary mission is to support the 173rd joint force entry. Integral to that is taking out air defense systems so they could safely project their forces through a mass tactical airborne operation and air assaults. With the KASP we were able to conduct recon and identify and destroy those high payoff targets.” [1]

The KASP is part of the Lithuanian Land force – a modern active reserve of volunteers responsible for territorial defense. There are almost 5,000 volunteers and about 500 professional soldiers in the KASP. The NDVF 1st Territorial Unit Dainava military district is in the South-Southwest part of Lithuania and it borders Byelorussia and Russia’s Federation Kaliningrad district. In 2007 elements of the unit was focused on special operations and began working with NATO SOF units. [2]

The Saber Junction 18 exercise provided the KASP with the opportunity to work with US special operations forces. In the event of a Russian invasion the KASP would likely conduct guerrilla warfare and other irregular warfare operations in conjunction with NATO special operations forces. KASP has already had some limited encounters with the former Soviet Union. After Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 Moscow tried to re-assert control of the Lithuania capital. The newly formed NDVS stood in opposition to Moscow’s objectives.

The Saber Junction 18 exercise had over 5,500 participants from 20 allied and partner nations. The training took place at the Hohenfels and Grafenwohr training areas in Germany.

The annexation of Crimea and the Russian involvement in the fighting in eastern Ukraine has put the Baltic states on edge. They are now working very closely with NATO and other nations to beef up their defense to deter Russian aggression. Should the Russians decide to invade the Baltic states they would very likely succeed after a brief period of fighting. However, the prospect of a long-term insurgency with NATO support could be a deterring factor.

An event similar to the Russia aggression witnessed in Ukraine or Crimea taking place in Lithuania is unlikely. The Russian ethnic composition of Lithuania is much smaller than that of Latvia and Estonia. However, Lithuania lies between the Russian oblast of Kaliningrad and the territory of Belarus and Russia could decide they want a secure land corridor between the two locations.

Special Operations Command – Europe has been actively engaged in training exercises with nations of the Baltic Sea region to include Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and Norway. SOCEUR trains with these NATO and partner nations in Europe and in those countries as well. The SOF command has as one of its core missions the conduct of unconventional warfare in the Baltic states.

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Footnotes:

[1] See “Lithuanian KASP and US SOF train irregular warfare at Saber Junction 18”, SOCEUR DVIDS, September 27, 2018.

[2] NDVF 1st Territorial Unit Dainava Military District, Lithuanian Armed Forces.

References:

Saber Junction 18, 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, September 21, 2018.
Watch a 2-minute long video explaining the exercise.
www.dvidshub.net/video/628042/saber-junction-18-news-story

Lithuania and NATO
https://shape.nato.int/lithuania

Top Photo: Saber Junction 18 – KASP and 20th SFGA personnel conduct mission planning. Photo by 1st Lt Benjamin Haulenbeek; SOCEUR, Sep 19, 2018.

]]> 8470 https://sof.news/events/movie-the-green-berets/ Thu, 06 Sep 2018 05:00:13 +0000 http://www.sof.news/?p=7545 The movie The Green Berets, starring John Wayne in the lead role, was released in on July 4, 1968. It depicted the role of U.S. Army Special Forces missions during the Vietnam War. It was viewed as a patriotic film [...]]]>

The movie The Green Berets, starring John Wayne in the lead role, was released in on July 4, 1968. It depicted the role of U.S. Army Special Forces missions during the Vietnam War. It was viewed as a patriotic film and proved to be an excellent recruiting tool for Special Forces as well as the U.S. Army in general.

During the Special Forces Association annual convention held in June 2018 in El Paso, Texas the SFA members were treated to a special showing of The Green Berets. The event, held on the 50th anniversary of the release of the movie, took place at a theater in downtown El Paso and was preceded with a cocktail hour where actors of the movie were on hand for photographs. Many of the SF soldiers attending the event were retired and veterans of the Vietnam War.

The Green Berets also starred David Janssen – a reporter with some serious doubts about the war – who is embedded with a Green Beret A-Camp in Vietnam. Although very cynical at the onset of the movie Janssen experiences a bit of an awakening as he learns more about the SF mission and gets ‘eyes on’ the situation in Vietnam. Other actors included Jim Hutton (team supply / engineer NCO), Aldo Ray (team sergeant), Irene Tsu (honeypot), and Jack Soo (South Vietnam Army officer). Most of the movie was filmed in the summer of 1967. Three of the actors in the film were present prior to the showing of the movie during a ‘meet and greet’ reception at the theater – Bill Olds, Irene Tsu, and Fred Balderrama.

The movie begins stateside when Colonel Mike Kirby (John Wayne) finds out he is going to Vietnam. He recruits a couple of SF teams to go with him. One of the teams is shown in the film demonstrating the capabilities of the Green Berets to the press at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. SF veterans will recall the Gabriel Demonstrations of the past. [1]

The next stop in the movie is Vietnam where an incoming SF team is relieving an outgoing SF team at an A camp. The camp comes under attack and John Wayne flies in to the rescue with ‘Mike Force’ [2] and ‘Puff the Magic Dragon‘. Order is restored and the camp is reoccupied by SF and their host nation partners.

Then the movie depicts Col Kirby leading a select team of SF soldiers to kidnap a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) general played by Bill Olds – now a retired U.S. Army colonel. Olds played the part of General Phan Son Ti.

A ‘honey trap‘ is used to put the NVA general at the right place at the right time. This mission goes according to plan – a Fulton Extraction is featured – but along the way the team takes some losses.

The military put a lot of support behind the movie – providing access to military bases, use of aircraft, and with the participation of U.S. Army soldiers. Many soldiers were ‘extras’ – marching in formation, in the background – while others had some minor roles. Fred Balderrama was in the movie along with many other soldiers. He was present for the SFA Convention in June in El Paso.

SGM (Ret) Fred Balderrama served a tour in Vietnam (68-69). He saw service in several U.S. Army units to include the 1st and 7th Special Forces Groups, 101st Airborne Division, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the 3rd Civil Affairs Group. He retired after 31 years of Army service.

The film was very anti-communist and supportive of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. It was a financial success but not very well-received by the Hollywood insiders and film critics of the U.S. media – many who opposed the war. The movie was based on the book by Robin Moore entitled The Green Berets and features the song by Barry Sadler entitled Ballad of the Green Berets. It is a movie revered by SF soldiers young and old. It was an inspiring event to watch the 50th anniversary viewing of the film with so many Special Forces Vietnam veterans present in the audience.

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Footnotes:

[1] Watch an abbreviated filmed version of what the Gabriel Demonstration looked like in the 60s and 70s. Features a Special Forces A Detachment from the 5th Special Forces Group.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccrvI7rz_L0

Kevin O’Brien (a former SF NCO, now deceased) provides details on the video in his post entitled “The Gabriel Demo Team circa 1983-84”, WeaponsMan, November 20, 2013.

[2] The Mike Force’s mission was to act as a country-wide quick reaction force composed of U.S. Army Special Forces personnel and indigenous soldiers – many from minority groups of Vietnam.

References:

The Green Berets (film) Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Berets_(film)

The Green Berets – Movie Trailer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPB-Rt2U7jg

Images:
Top: John Wayne image from promotional poster.
50th Anniversary image – SFA Chapter IX, El Paso, Texas

]]> 7545 https://sof.news/special-forces/what-makes-a-green-beret-special/ Thu, 30 Aug 2018 15:07:11 +0000 http://www.sof.news/?p=7863 By Steven Boyd Newman, MSG (R), SF For the last five years I’ve been working on a screenplay, Kill or Capture, a true story about a team from 7th Special Forces Group. The men on this team and their story reached into [...]]]>

By Steven Boyd Newman, MSG (R), SF

For the last five years I’ve been working on a screenplay, Kill or Capture, a true story about a team from 7th Special Forces Group. The men on this team and their story reached into my soul and took command of my thoughts, of my life. Their story launched me on a journey that led me to discover a great deal about myself as I struggled to answer the one question that seems to elude us all. “What makes a Green Beret special?”

Since I started working on their story, I have written a thousand pages of screenplay about their lives, about life as a soldier. This all started with my desire to see one of my books made into a film and so I adapted both of my books into screenplays. That took a great deal of effort. I spent hours and hours reading how-to-books, writing, researching the film industry. Let me tell you, the skills I learned in Operations & Intelligence course (O&I) came in handy. I went through before it became part of ANCOAC, but I digress. One lesson I would like to pass on… What we call “Operationalizing Intelligence” is called “Stalking” in the civilian world. Seems there is a fine line we shouldn’t cross. Who knew?

After seven months of full-time effort, I finished the first draft of their story. Shortly after that, I was on the phone with a friend in Los Angeles and I told him, “I’m done, stick a fork in me… I’ve got nothing left.” He simply replied, “Well Steve, there is always room for another Christmas story” and I was pissed. “I don’t write Christmas stories, I write war stories!” We chatted for a while longer as he tried to convince me, but after he hung up, I started thinking about it. I came to realize, Soldiers have Christmas. In fact, Christmas can be the most difficult time of year for the troops. It’s hard to be away from home in a war-torn land any time of year, let alone at Christmas. Some of us found it difficult to go home after returning from far off lands, especially at Christmas. Nobody understands, they’re so different. Nothing will ever be the same. I just can’t face them now.

In my research, I found inspiration from the Charles Dickens short story, “What Christmas is as We Grow Older”. ^(Dickens). So, I wrote a screenplay, One More Christmas, which is loosely based on Dickens’ work. My screenplay is a story about a wounded warrior who struggles with recovery until he finds true love and discovers his purpose in life. We all want the opportunity to go home, to see the people we love and care about the most. Some will get the chance, others won’t, but we’ve all been there, struggling with the decision. We’ve all struggled with the emotions that spring up during that time of year. It means something different to all of us, as was the case with our protagonist in One More Christmas. At least he had the chance, he had survived, but all he wanted was to get back to his unit, back on his team. Can anybody out there relate to that?

Long story short, I submitted One More Christmas and Kill or Capture to a screenwriting competition at the GI Film Festival in the summer of 2015. ^{(GIFF 15)} Kill or Capture didn’t get into the festival, but One More Christmas did, primarily because it fits perfectly into the festivals mission; which is dedicated to supporting the war to peace transition for veterans.

I was very proud of what I had accomplished and at this point, I had been writing for almost six years with some success. Nothing monumental, and I certainly hadn’t found a way of making a profit. Getting into the festival was a milestone of success and I wanted to celebrate. My way of doing that was to attend the festival and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was the first and last film festival I’ve attended. I went to every event. It was a lot of fun for many reasons, but one of the best reasons was I made a new friend. He is an SF Brother many of you may know, Kevin Knapp? In fact, there is a picture of him and me on the home page for the 2015 festival. Couple of barrel-chested freedom fighters out having fun.

Before I attended the festival, the organizers recommended that I join a group called, Veterans in Film and Television, LA. ^(VME) It was free for veterans and provided an opportunity to network with other veterans in the film industry. * Note VFTLA is now VME, Veterans in Media and Entertainment. Later I realized, having me sign up as a member of this non-profit was an easy way for the festival to vet me as a selectee. The good folks at VME asked for a DD-214 and I appreciated that. One thought, “I am who I say I am, nothing more and nothing less.” That said, I attended the festival and while there I met a bunch of film fans. I also met a great many producers, directors, actors… film makers in general and the experience was fantastic. One question I kept getting asked, “So you have a screenplay in the festival, what film school did you go to?” Well, I hadn’t been to film school and that seemed to be a non-starter for many. It meant I was an outsider, a nobody who just got lucky.

I like to think there was some talent involved, but the truth was, I hadn’t been to film school. So, I did a dangerous thing. I started thinking again. I started thinking about going back to school and that started me on another journey that seemed to give inspiration to a great many brothers and friends. I started film school at 53 years-old. I went to Oklahoma City Community College and received a Certificate of Mastery in Digital Cinema Production. Thank God for the Post 911 GI Bill.

Now, before you scoff at a community college in Oklahoma City, stop and think about this for a minute. I was taking classes from Oscar-winning producer, Gray Frederickson, God Father Part II.  ^(Oscars) By the way, go to the link, Gray is the tall blonde headed guy in the video accepting the award on behalf of the crew. So… One of my first classes was screenwriting and when it was over, I rewrote Kill or Capture during the Christmas break, in the hope I might be able to submit if for consideration to other film festivals, or perhaps I might find a producer for it.

Fast forward to January 2016, I was back in school, learning cinematography, sound, lighting and spending a lot of time on Facebook. Just enjoying life in general. Oh, Facebook is the only way to keep up with kids these days. Anyway, I received a FB notice from VME… They were sponsoring a pitch fest for screenwriters at Lionsgate and were taking submissions; They wanted true stories about men, title and loglines only. A light bulb went off in my head. “Hey I have a story that fits those categories.” Therefore, I sent an email exactly in accordance with the instructions, something I learned to do in Phase I… you know, to follow instructions. I wrote, “Kill or Capture, a true story about a team of Green Berets and their Afghan Commandos who fought shoulder to shoulder against a hardened Taliban force.”

In February, I received an email asking for the specific setting and date. I wrote back, “Afghanistan – 2006.” That is all I wrote, nothing more, nothing less. Weeks passed, then on March 18th, 2016 I received a phone call from the founder of VME and she said in her whiskey-raspy voice like Janice Joplin, “Congratulations! You’ve been selected to pitch; can you be in Santa Monica on the 27th?” Without hesitation, I said “Sure!” I found out later that she was actually Angelina Jolie… I’ll save that one for our next visit to Charlie Mike. Tell it to you over a beer. Deal?

So, I called my wife at work and asked for permission to go… uhemmm…, I told her I was going to California. She said “Hold on, I’ll call you back.” I waited impatiently. Finally, she called and said, “Plane tickets are 1600 bucks, hotels are $500 a night.” That ruled out my trip… I’m sure she could hear the disappointment in my voice, but after a moment she said, “Hold on,” and hung up.

I waited all day, disappointed that I couldn’t go. Then she called back. “I have a plan. Lodging at the Los Angeles Air Force Base is only $60 a night, and we’ll drive.” Actually, what she meant was, “She would drive and I will sit there bored out of my mind the whole way.” I’m not sure how, but since I got remarried I have lost my privileges to my new wife who is always scared to death when I drive. I’m quick to remind her that, in my day, I had been through all kinds of tactical driving courses with SF, the State Department, 3cgi, even the Postal Service, you name it. Apparently, she doesn’t appreciate anti-lock brakes, or a good reverse out, J-turn with guns blazing. Hey, we’ve got to maintain our skills… right? I don’t know what her problem is.

Anyway… We went. I pitched. Then after waiting for six months I learned that we were selected out of over a thousand submissions and two dozen pitches at two separate pitch fests. We were selected for an opportunity to get Kill or Capture looked at by Lionsgate. I spent a year working with their acquisitions director just to prove I could write for them, and then another year and half working with the producer and director to figure it all out. In the meantime, I started a Master’s in Fine Art – Film program. Post 911 GI bill. Thank God, again!

I have spent the months since graduating in May, traveling the country, meeting all the guys who were on the team and rewriting the script and creating character descriptions, only to be asked by the folks in LA, “What makes this team, their story worthy of film versus any one of the other thousands of stories of valor and sacrifice emanating from this war?” I… I… I said; “Let me give it a think.” I know, dangerous thing to do, right? They weren’t challenging me by asking. I knew right away, they need to know the answers for their investors and well, I started working on the answers… It took me longer than I thought to come up with them.

A few days ago, I came across a Ted Talk . . . Love those, don’t you? I came across this Ted Talk , by a psychologist who sought to define what makes people successful and she came to the conclusion that it was grit. “What makes a child successful is not social intelligence, not good looks, not IQ, it is grit. It takes grit to become successful. Grit is passion and perseverance in achieving long-term goals. Grit is having stamina, sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years. Grit is working really, really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life-like it is a marathon not a sprint.” ^(TED)

Here is part of my answer. Green Berets demonstrate grit by following through on their commitments. They understand failure is not a permanent condition. A Green Beret is a leader. He has tested himself against the most difficult challenges the Army has to offer and he moves through life with confidence in his own abilities, even if he stands alone. He knows that no matter how bad things get, he always has that little something extra to give. He has the ability and desire to go the extra mile. He loves his country and his fellow Soldier. He is a warrior, comfortable in his own skin. He is a quiet professional. (Quiet, not silent.)

But what makes this team and their story worthy of film? Well, this is a true story about the sacrifices for one another made by the men on a team of Green Berets. If not for their individual heroic actions and dedication to each other, the team would have been overrun. With fearless personal example they inspired their Afghan brothers to continue the fight against overwhelming odds. After defeating a multitude of determined enemy attacks, saving the lives of their comrades and preventing the destruction of the team, they lead their Afghan brothers to safety in order to live and fight another day. This is the true story of a Special Forces team, a team of Green Berets in combat. But that’s not the complete answer.

What makes their story worthy of film? These men exemplify the warrior spirit and once again prove that one man with courage can make a difference. Let me reiterate that. These men had the courage to stand up against overwhelming odds and make a difference. A difference in not only their lives, but in the lives of many, many people, most of whom will never know or understand what they did or why. That is what makes their story worthy of film. That is what makes their story so compelling to me. That is why I have spent five years, sustained only by hope, working on their story, working to bring it to life on the big screen. And you know what? It might just happen if we have the grit to see it through. It has only been five years, that’s smoking it from what I hear.

One last word, all you brothers out there sitting in your basement under a lamp in your underwear cruising the internet and eating Cheetos need to stop complaining about this generation of millennials. You need to get off your asses, get some sunshine and learn to live a little. They got this if you’ll have their backs. If you don’t believe me, just wait till Kill or Capture comes out, you’ll see.

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Works Cited

Dickens, Charles. http://www.free-short-stories.org.uk/charles-dickens-what-christmas-is-as-we-grow-older.htm. n.d. 15 August 2018.

GIFF 15. http://giff15.com/screenwriting-competition/. 18 May 2015. 15 08 2018.

VME. http://www.vftla.org/veteran/steven-b-newman#.W3RLgpNKiu4. n.d. LA Veterans in Film and Television. 15 08 2018.

Oscars. The Godfather Part II Wins Best Picture: 1975. n.d. Frederickson Gray. 08 2018. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=3p5Pktqkq4Q>.

TED. Angela Lee Duckworth / Ted Talk Education, Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. n.d. TED. 15 2018. <https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance>.

Photo

Pulling security at Camp Price, Afghanistan, August 11, 2007. U.S. Army Photo by Specialist David Gunn.

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Steven Boyd Newman is an accomplished writer with a lifetime of real-world experience to draw from. His perspective as a Green Beret combat veteran brings truth and realism to the characters he creates. He is a screenwriter and filmmaker who reveals the heart and spirit of our nations’ greatest warriors and shows them for who they really are; the young men and women who grew up next door and went on to become something extraordinary.

A graduate of the United States Army Special Forces Qualification Course, Steven served 21 years in the Green Berets. He holds a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration from Columbia College where he graduated Cum Laude while still on active duty. He has also gained a Certificate of Mastery in Digital Cinema Production from Oklahoma City Community College where he studied film production under Oscar-winning Film Producer, Gray Frederickson, “God Father Part II.” Steven also holds a Masters in Fine Art – Film, from Watkins College of Art in Nashville, TN where he graduated Cum Laude in May 2018. Steven currently resides in Tennessee where he continues to write about life as a soldier while helping others, especially veterans, achieve their creative dreams.

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