JULY 2016 VOL 64
Chapter 16 Newsle er Organiza on and Responsibili es: The Epitome of a Leader: Editor: Glen Craig Colonel (R) Richard Thomas Sec ons: By: Kevin R. Flike 22 Apr, 2016 Message from the President: Former 1st Special Forces Group Commander Colonel (R) Richard Thomas Treasurers Report: Kevin Pa on is running for office in the state of Washington. If I was s ll a WA resident, Sec. Rpt (Staff Mee ng Minutes): Paul Bagshaw he would have my vote and this is why… Sick Call/Obituary: Chaplain Butch Hall In the spring of 2012 I was a shell of the man I used to be. A er six Blast from the Past: Glen Craig surgeries and thousands of hours of physical therapy I was not progressing Special Recogni on: Paul Bagshaw as fast as I thought I would. I became bi er and cynical as I slowly realized that I was a di erent man. I had de ned myself by my physical prowess, Upcoming Events: Paul Bagshaw ff fi and now I could barely put my own clothes on. I knew my injuries would Calendar: Dave Shell prevent me from con nuing my service in the 1st Special Forces Group, so I Human Interest Story: Chapter at large started thinking of what I should do when my medical re rement was SFA Na onal HQ Update: Dave Shell finally processed. I wanted to do something big, something that told A er Ac on Report: Jim Lessler people I was be er than ever. Mostly, I wanted people to stop feeling Membership Info: Roy Sayer sorry for me. I decided I would apply to graduate schools like Harvard and Adver sements: Glen Craig MIT. A lot of people laughed at me when I told them this, however, everyone who knew me understood that I was serious – I just needed a Suspense: li le help. Newsle er published (Web): 1st of each One of my mentors, Master Sergeant Tom Williams put me in contact with odd numbered month Colonel (R) Richard Thomas a er I told him my plans. I was astonished th Input due to editor: 20 of each when Colonel (R) Thomas reached out to me, a staff sergeant, to set up a even numbered month lunch mee ng. Before our mee ng, I asked around the 1st Special Force Dra due to President: 27th of each Group about Colonel (R) Thomas and everyone said the same thing, “Best even numbered month Colonel I ever worked for, incredible leader and man.” One of my dearest st th friends in the 1 Special Forces Group told me to, “listen to every word he Final Dra due 29 of each has to say.” even numbered month I showed up to our mee ng unkempt and disheveled, the telltale signs of a man who was un‐raveling. However, Colonel (R) Thomas listened intently as I told him about the day I was shot, the surgeries, physical therapy and my new plans. He was the highest‐ranking officer I had ever spoken with and he never interrupted me once. A er he listened to every word I had to say, I was given sage advice gained from a pres gious 30‐year military career. He asked me tough ques ons, respec ully poked holes in my plan, never showed any signs of pity for me and encouraged me to pursue my dreams of graduate school. This was not the last me Colonel (R) Thomas and I met. Despite his busy schedule, he made a point to check in with me and meet face to face over numerous lunches. He made introduc ons and cri qued essays and resumes for me. When I received mul ple rejec on le ers and was placed on waitlists, he encouraged me to push forward. This man epitomizes leadership and embodies the principle of selfless sacrifice. Colonel (R) Thomas saw a soldier who was veering off course and
Page 1 he took the me and expended the energy to help him get his life back in order. Since Colonel (R) Thomas and I first met, my wife and I have gone on to have two beau ful daughters and I will graduate with dual master’s degrees from the MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA) and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (MPA) this spring. There are many people that helped me get to this point, and Colonel (R) Thomas is definitely one of them. To learn more about Colonel (R) Richard Thomas and his campaign, please check out his website Kevin R. Flike is currently a graduate student pursuing dual masters degrees from the MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA) and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (MPA) with an expected gradua on date of spring 2016. Prior to grad school Kevin served as a Special Forces Engineer assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group and deployed to the Philippines, Thailand and twice to Afghanistan. On September 25, 2011 during his second deployment to Afghanistan, he was shot in the lower abdomen and was medically re red due to his injuries.
Dinosaurs Luncheon, 4‐29‐16 The following members and guests were present: Bob & Joanne Dimond, Jain Dickerson, Glen Craig, Pa Lakey, Mike & Joy Cassidy, John Gebbie, Walt & Lynda Hetzler, Butch & Regina Hall, Roland Nuqui, and Jim & Elaine Lessler. The following member was present from Chapter 43: Skip E nger.
J. K. Wright Memorial Breakfast, 5‐7‐16 The following members and guests were present: Jim & Elaine Lessler (IMO Bart Heimsness), Butch Hall, Bob Bean, Jim Brown, Rich Reilley, Lt. General David Fridovich, Ramiro Alonso, Walt & Lynda Hetzler, Dennis Guiler, Ed & Erma Booth, Johnny & Kim King, and Nick Marvais. The following members were present from Chapter 43: Mike Sherlock and Skip E nger.
Dinosaurs Luncheon, 5‐27‐16 The following members and guests were present: Mike & Joy Cassidy, Jim & Elaine Lessler, Roland Nuqui, John & Jenny Gebbie, John "Jumper" Bi les, Butch & Regina Hall and Ed & Erma Booth.
J. K. Wright Memorial Breakfast, 6‐4‐16 The following members and guests were present: John Gebbie, Ed & Erma Booth, Dennis Guiler, Chien & Duyen Le, Jim & Elaine Lessler, Mike Barkstrom, Butch & Regina Hall, Nick Marvais, Glen Craig, Pa Lakey, Mel Schuckenbrock, Mike & Joy Cassidy, Ken Garcy, Mike Hood, Wayne & Yoko Karvonen and Johnny & Kim King.
Dinosaurs Luncheon, 6‐24‐16 The following members and guests were present: Jim & Elaine Lessler, Ted Wicorek, Ed & Erma Booth, Butch & Regina Hall, Mike & Joy Cassidy and Mike Barkstrom.
Page 2 Chapter XVI (North) Had a get together on 4/14/16 at Gene Finney’s House that was a ended by: Willi & Liz Lindner, Gene Finney & Lily, Paul Kalnins, Ray Ault, Danh Chu & Daniel Chu, Bob Smith & Mimzi Carroll, Nathaniel Wells & Catherine, Jim Corcoran & Sharon Jungers, Glen Craig & Pa Lakey, and Brian Rowe.
Chapter XVI SFA William R. Card Chapter Mee ng Minutes, June 11, 2016
Mee ng called to order: Ex‐ President Dave Shell at 1100 hours,( Dave resigned effec ve June 1) followed by the Pledge of Allegiance singing of the Ballad of the Green Beret and invoca on given by Chaplain Butch Hall. Mee ng turned over to: Vice President Eric Heid. Members & Guests Present: Ed Booth, Keith Looker, Ramiro Alonso, Bryan Rowe, Charlie Higbee, Ken Garcy, Tom Morgan, Jay Lathrop, Bill Gates, Roy Sayer, Ron Hale, Willi Lindmer, Mike Barkstrom, Steven Epperson, Mike Cassidy, Glen Craig, Carey Pennington, Jesse Basher, Jim Lofland, Butch Hall, Wayne Karvonen, Nick Marvais, Jim Beisley, Robert L. Smith, Dave Adkins, Dave Shell, Jim Lessler and Eric Heid. Wives present were Yoko. Karvonen, Stephanie Gates, Erma Booth, Joy Cassidy, Sharon Epperson, Elaine Lessler, Pa Lakey. Visitors present were Colin Beasley, and James and Jacob Lathrop. Chaplain Report: Nothing to report by Chaplain Butch Hall. Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Kevin Pa on not in a endance. Report offered by Vice President Eric Heid. Finances are in good standing and the chapter is refilling the coffers by selling raffle ckets. Quartermaster Report: Mike Cassidy reported no sales today due to lack of room in the bar. Old Business: Elec ons. Willi Lindmer and Mike Barkstrom have put their names forward for Treasurer and Secretary, repec vely. There are no other nomina ons for these posi ons. There is no viable candidate for President. Cruise: It was reported by Butch Hall that the cruise has been canceled due to conflict. Butch will be going on a cruise and invi ng others to join him, distribu ng details at a later date. Rest Stop: Carey Pennington states there are s ll spots to fill on the weekend of September 3. Contact him if you are able to volunteer. New Business: Nominees for office Willi Lindmer and Mike Barkstrom were introduced to the chapter and gave brief personal histories. Eric Heid supplied informa on about Organiza on Day, Friday, June 24, 1000 hours to 1500 hours at Shoreline Park. He requested the help of 5 people for set up. Bring your swim suits because we will be on the lake. Lots of food, beer and comradery. Chapter Picnic to be held at Captain Ron's on August 13. Details to follow. Nick Marvais reported the chapter golf ou ng will be July 23 at Fort Lewis Course. Gather 0800. Tee off 0900. Dave Shell to follow up with details. Steve Epperson of OASIS reported a golf ou ng July 29 at Capital City Golf Course. On September 17, they will have an auc on and wine tas ng fundraising at Lacey Community Center. They are looking for dona ons. Mike Cassidy gave a report on the Interna onal Airbourne Society and his jump in Nepal. He presented a bo le of Gerka beer to Jesse Basher wrapped in a piece of Katmandu newspaper. Jesse thanked him and said he would go wash his hands. Carey Pennington and Ken Garcy reported that Colonel Rick Thomas is running for State Representa ve for the 29th District. Get out and support him. Ed Booth reported that Reed "Cadillac" Johnson has died. He was most recently the President of the 46th Company Special Forces Associa on and his wife needs financial help. Eric will send a link to the site for informa on and dona ons. Eric reported that SFC Martland will remain in the Army. Martland offered his thanks for the support from the chapter and associa on. Closing prayer: by Chaplain Butch. Mee ng adjourned: 1137 by Vice President Eric Heid. Respec ully submi ed Mike Barkstrom
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1st SFG’s organiza on day Some of us from SFA Chapter XVI showed the colors at 1st SFG’s organiza on day on 24 June 2016. We set a tent with Chapter XVI logos and marke ng stuff. Eric and Carey sold raffle ckets for the weapons drawing. In addi on, the chapter donated beer. The SF troopers and wives consumed about 4.5 kegs of ale and stout. It was a Very popular stop. Steph Gates and Eric Heid manned the beer kegs. Chapter XVI, SFA personnel present were the following: Eric & Addy Heid, Carey Pennington, Bill & Steph Gates, Bryan Rowe, Dave Adkins, Gene Finney and 2 others I missed their names. We had a great me. Promoted SFA, interes ngly lot of the troops never heard of the SFA or what we do. We need a stronger turnout from Chapter XVI in the future. Cheers William C. B. Gates, PhD, PE, D.GE, PG, PEng
Winner golf tournament Bill, Mike Sherlock was the “WINNAH” of the “Rock Nesom” memorial golf tournament (21 May 2016) and the recipient of the “Eulis Presley” trophy to keep for one year, at the FLGC (Eagles Landing) (the weather did not cooperate). Mike S and Yoko Karvonen were ed, however using the “Callaway” scoring system the winner is the one with the lowest handicap, "Closest to the Pin” Mike Sherlock, “Longest Drive” John Gebbie. Pastor Butch’s Corner “The Back Nine and then it’s Winter”
You know… me has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is…the back nine of my life and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far off that I could not fathom it, or imagine fully what it would be like. But, here it is…my friends are re red and ge ng gray…they move slower and I see and older person now. Some are in be er and some worse shape than me…but I see the great change. Not like the ones I remember who were young and vibrant…but, like me, there age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks we used to see and never thought we’d become. Each day now, I find that just ge ng a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore...it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will…I just fall asleep where I sit! And so, as I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though I’m on the back nine, and I’m not sure how long it will last…this I know, that when it’s over on this earth…it’s over. A new adventure will begin! Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done…things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I am happy to have done. It’s all in a life me. So, if you are not on the back nine yet…let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly. Don’t put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So do what you can today, as you are never be sure whether you are on the back nine or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life…so live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember…and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things you have done for them in all the years past!! “Life is a gi to you. The way you live your life is your gi to those who come a er. Make it a fantas c one. Live Life well and enjoy each day by doing something
Page 4 fun! Be Happy and remember “Health is real wealth not gold and silver.” Lastly; remember this… ~Your children are becoming you……….but your grandchildren are perfect! ~Going out is good………Making it safely back home is be er! ~No big deal when you realize you’re never going to be really good at golf. ~No big deal when you realize you don’t care to do the things you did yesterday. ~No big deal when you realize you sleep be er in your lounge chair with the TV ‘ON’ than in your bed. It’s called “pre‐sleep.” ~No big deal when you realize you miss the days when everything worked with just and “ON” and “OFF” switch. ~No big deal when you realize you tend to use more four le er words……..What?...... When?...... ???? ~No big deal when you realize what used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~No big deal when you realize “everybody” whispers these days. ~No big deal when you realize you have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet………2 of which you will never wear again. ~No big deal when you realize that “OLD” is good: Old Songs, Old Movies, and best of all “OLD FRIENDS!” ~No big deal when you realize you can’t make old friends! So stay well “OLD FRIEND!” It is not what you Gather but what you Sca er that tells what kind of life you have lead. TODAY IS THE OLDEST WE HAVE EVER BEEN; AND THE YOUNGEST WE WILL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS. “DO NOT REGRET GROWING OLDER. IT IS A PRIVILEDGE DENIED TO MANY.” AMEN!
The Difference Between “Special Opera ons” and “Special Forces”
May 30, 2016 by Marty Skovlund, Jr.
Possibly one of the most pervasive yet irrita ng missteps that the media and public in general makes about the military is the use of the terms ‘Special Opera ons Forces’ (SOF) and Special Forces (SF) interchangeably. In a day and age where special opera ons units have a growing presence in the media due to the increase of their importance in the asymmetric, non‐conven onal combat environment that our country has found ourselves in, the mistake has become all too common in headlines on news channels as well as newspapers and magazines. Consider this ar cle a primer for anyone in the media that even remotely cares about their journalis c accuracy, as well as the curious ci zen. Special Opera ons, or some mes referred more accurately to as Special Opera ons Forces (SOF), include any unit that falls under the United States Special Opera ons Command (SOCOM). Naval Special Warfare, Air Force Special Opera ons Command, Army Special Opera ons Command, and Marine Special Opera ons Command are all included under this umbrella. I won’t go further down the ladder and list every unit under those commands, but they cover everything from the 528th Sustainment Brigade and Civil Affairs to the SEAL Teams and Ranger Regiment. The shadowy Joint Special Opera ons Command also falls under SOCOM as a sub‐unified command, but o en reports directly to higher authori es due to their unique and o en sensi ve missions. Who is not covered by the term Special Opera ons? Anyone who does not fall under the SOCOM umbrella. For example, although Force Recon companies in the Marine Corps are highly trained and undergo a selec on process similar to many SOF units, they are not considered Special Opera ons as they belong to the Marine Corps, not SOCOM. Now, what about the term “Special Forces”? Special Forces is not a generic term in the U.S. military, and refers to a very specific unit. The 1st Special Forces Regiment falls under the command of the Army Special Opera ons Command (men oned above) and includes the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 19th, and 20th Special Forces Groups. They are most o en referred to by their dis nc ve headgear, the Green Beret, or simply as “SF.” The Army’s Special Forces are capable of a wide variety of missions, but were designed to be the premiere experts on unconven onal warfare and foreign internal defense. As an example of a classic unconven onal warfare mission that happened in recent history, a er the terror a acks of 9/11 small elements of the 5th Special Forces Group embedded with indigenous fighters from Afghanistan’s Northern Alliance and lead them into ba le. Within a ma er of weeks, they had effec vely neutralized the Taliban threat – accomplished not with brigades and divisions of soldiers, but with only a couple dozen Special Forces soldiers. This is the capability that the 1st Special Forces Regiment brings to the table, and makes them very unique in the larger SOCOM picture. To summarize, Special Opera ons Forces (SOF) is a generic term that you can use to refer to any and all special opera ons units. Special Forces is the tle of a very specific unit, and is not a generic term for other units. If you don’t know what unit did something, refer to them as SOF or Special Opera ons. If you know for a fact that it was a unit from one of the seven Special Forces Groups, then refer to them as Special Forces. Simple enough… Right?
Page 5 Warrant Officer Kevin Wheatley
He made the ul mate sacrifice rather than leave his comrade to die alone, there is no award high enough in this life.... With the Enemy Approaching, He Sat Beside His Wounded Comrade, Pulled the Pin on Two Grenades, and Waited. (War History on line) Refusing to leave his mortally wounded comrade as the enemy approached, Australian Warrant Officer Kevin Wheatley pulled the pin on two grenades and waited for the inevitable. Most of the world has only seen such a scenario in the movies and yet, Warrant Officer Wheatley lived it and paid the ul mate price for it. What could make an unwounded man forgo an obvious a empt to save his own life in exchange for certain death? When you learn a li le more about the history of this man, you would likely come to the conclusion that there was no other way that such a mighty man’s life was going to end. Warrant Officer Kevin Wheatley was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his ac ons in Vietnam and deserves the a en on and respect of all who might read these words. Des ny Awaited Kevin Wheatley joined the Australian Army in 1956 at the age of 19. His first taste of combat would come during what is known as the Malayan Emergency between 1957 and 1959. During this me, Wheatley would find himself pi ed against an ‐Bri sh communist forces where he would gain vital experience necessary to carry out his mission in Vietnam a few years later. Promoted to Sergeant and then later Warrant Officer in 1964, Wheatley found himself in Vietnam by 1965 as part of the Australian Army Training team. Designed to support and train the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, Wheatley would be in close contact with the ARVN forces as they engaged the Viet Cong. In one such engagement in the Quant Tri Province, Wheatley no ced a small girl run across the ba lefield in the middle of a firefight. He then ran through the crossfire to retrieve the girl and shielding her with his own body somehow made it back to safety without wounds to either. If that were not foreshadowing enough to his coming heroism, Warrant Officer Wheatley was recommended for an award by a United States military advisor a er he witnessed Wheatley single handedly carry on an a ack up a steep slope to press the a ack a er Communist forces began to withdraw. While it appears that recommenda on from a senior US officer was not acted upon, it became clear that Wheatley would not be one to falter in the face of the enemy nor put his own life ahead of the mission. The A‐Team While the popular show had not yet been created, one can’t think of a more fi ng name for any unit containing Warrant Officer Wheatley. But that is preciously where he land when he was transferred to what was known as A Team which was part of the 5th Special Forces Group. It is here in this aptly named team that Wheatley would earn his place in Australian Military history and prove himself to be a mighty man from beginning to end. On November 13th, 1965, a group of Australian military advisors which would include Wheatley and fellow Warrant Officer Ron Swanton accompanied a company of the Civil Irregular Defense Group. The CIDG were part of a plan to develop irregular paramilitary forces from minority popula ons of Vietnam. As this group embarked on a search and destroy mission to clear a vital road captured by the Viet Cong, they came under intense fire in the rice paddies near Binh Hoa. Warrant Officer Swanton became mortally wounded during the firefight and the unit appeared to be pinned down. Wheatley was reques ng addi onal support and a medevac for Swanton when the irregular forces began to break and sca er. Wheatley then carried the wounded Swanton to a nearby tree line where he was urged to abandon Swanton given the severity of his wounds. However, Wheatley would have no part of such a plan. As the rest of the forces sca ered, Wheatley was last seen beside the wounded Swanton pulling the pins on two grenades in an cipa on of the advancing enemy. Two explosions were later heard, followed by intense gunfire and then silence. Wheatley and Swanson fell that day in combat. And while it is not known what number of enemy Wheatley may have taken out with those last two grenades, one can’t help but think that a man of Wheatley’s caliber ensured they landed right on target. The Victoria Cross For his gallantry, Warrant Officer Kevin Wheatley was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his ac ons that day. The highest honor in the Commonwealth, the Victoria Cross has only been awarded 15 mes since the end of World War 2, one of which was Wheatley. The rarity of this honor speaks to how highly this mighty man’s ac ons were weighed. There was some mild controversy about the award being given for ac on in Vietnam since the United Kingdom had refused to par cipate in the war and were worried such a high honor would give implicit approval for the war. However, such a bold display of courage was too much to deny for poli cal reasons. In addi on to the Victoria Cross, Wheatley was awarded the US Silver Star, the South Vietnamese Knight of the Na onal Order, and Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm. While the Vietnam War is primarily viewed as a conflict of American interven on, given the ac ons of men like Wheatley, one can’t deny the contribu on of the Australian military in what would become both na on’s longest conflict at the me.
Page 6 For only in the movies can we recount and relive such an ac on of unfiltered heroism. For enemy and foe alike must p their hats to the man who refused to leave a wounded brother in the face of certain death. The world must honor the man, who pulled the pins on two grenades, and waited.
Warrant Officer Kevin Wheatley VC is honored in the Hall of Heroes at the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
There Once Was a Country in the Middle of the Suez Canal. ( CN Traveller ) Sailors trapped there for eight years in the 1970s formed a mini‐na on to pass the me. Over 2.5 million tons of freight pass through the Suez Canal every day, making up eight percent of all the world's cargo. It's hard to imagine a world without the venerable 120‐mile waterway, but between 1967 and 1975, that's exactly what we had to make do with. The canal's eight‐year closure led to the crea on of one of the weirdest "micro‐na ons" in history. Fi een ships are caught in history's worst traffic jam. The Six‐Day War of June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the Sinai Peninsula all the way to the Suez Canal. As a result, Egypt blockaded both ends of the canal with mines, scu led ships, and demolished bridges. This was a real problem for all the world's ships, but par cularly for the fi een ships that had been transi ng the canal on the day it closed. Unable to leave, the vessels moored together at Great Bi er Lake, at the center of the canal, to await more favorable poli cal winds. They had no idea they'd be there for eight long years. The Sinai Desert slowly covers the stranded sailors. The ships were flying under eight different flags: four were Bri sh, two each were West German, American, Swedish, and Polish, and one each French, Bulgarian, and Czechoslavakian. The suddenly marooned crews called their li le island of moored ships the "Great Bi er Lake Associa on," but, as years of desert sand swept over the decks, many began to use another name: the "Yellow Fleet." The Associa on provided all the comforts of home. The founding fathers of this new country did their best to keep busy, mee ng up for weekly church services on a German freighter, movie nights on the Bulgarian ship, and pool par es on one of the Swedish ships. During the 1968 Olympics, the sailors held their own "Bi er Lake Olympic Games," with lifeboat races in the canal and soccer matches on the deck of the MS Port Invercargill. On Sundays, the men would gather aboard the MS Nordwind and produce their own postage stamps, which collectors were reques ng from all over the world. Many le ers from the Great Bi er Lake Associa on were actually delivered, even though they were from hand‐drawn labels from a made‐up country. Only two ships of the Yellow Fleet ever sailed again. As the years passed, the shipping companies gradually rotated the sailors home, un l only a skeleton crew remained for maintenance. In 1975, with Egypt and Israel nearing a diploma c agreement, the canal reopened, but only two of the ships in the Great Bi er Lake Associa on were able to leave the lake under their own power. The Münsterland and Nordwind arrived in Hamburg in May 1975, with 30,000 cheering spectators on hand to greet them. Their round‐trip voyage to Australia had ended up taking eight years, three months, and five days.
The Original Airman Snuffy ( Thanks to We Are The Mighty ) By the me airmen leave Joint Base San Antonio, they have come to know the stories of Airman Snuffy; he’s the Every‐Airman, the average Airman, some mes the slacker Airman. Airman Snuffy is the example Air Force instructors use to describe a situa on. “Let’s say you’re charge of quarters duty one night and Airman Snuffy reports a fire…” or “Airman Snuffy applies a tourniquet to the injured area. What else should he do?” Airman Snuffy is not just an example… he’s a real person who did something legendary. During WWII, Sgt. Maynard “Snuffy” Smith was the 306th Bomber Group’s slacker in residence. Before joining the Army Air Corps, Smith was known as “spoiled,” living off an inheritance and was forced to join the Army by a judge as a sentence for failure to pay child support. No one wanted to fly with him. He didn’t like taking orders, especially from younger officers. He chose to be an aerial gunner because it was the fastest way to make rank and thus, pay. His first mission took him over St. Nazaire, France – aka “Flak City.” On the way back from the mission, the pilot mistook what he thought was Southern England for the heavily for fied city of Brest, France. German fighters suddenly ripped his plane to shreds: the wing tank had been shot off and was pouring fuel into the plane. The fuel caught fire, and then everything else caught fire. The plane became a flying inferno. Soon, the fire on the plane started to burn so hot it set off ammuni on and melted a gun mount, camera, and radio. Airman Snuffy started to throw whatever wasn’t bolted down out of the plane, lest it melt or explode. When the German fighters returned, he manned the B‐17’s machine guns to repel them. Then he had to start pu ng out the fire. When the
Page 7 ex nguisher ran out, he dumped the plane’s water and urine buckets on the fire. He even peed on the fire in the middle of repelling another German fighter a ack. When all else failed, he wrapped himself in available clothing and started to put out the fire with his body. Airman Snuffy administered aid to the six wounded men on the plane. So, he spent 90 minutes alterna vely shoo ng down German fighters, pu ng out fires, throwing hazardous material out of the plane, and giving first aid to his wingmen. The plane made it back to England and landed with 3,500 bullet and shrapnel holes in the fuselage and nothing but the four main beams holding it together. Ten minutes a er landing, the whole thing collapsed. For his ac ons on board the plane, Airman Snuffy was awarded the Medal of Honor, the first enlisted Airman to receive the award. When Secretary of War Henry S mson arrived to give Airman Snuffy the Medal of Honor, he was no ceably absent from his own ceremony, having been put on KP duty for disciplinary reasons.
The Shortest War in History
Quick and decisive.....Well if you've got to have a war why drag it out! ( Thanks to Historic UK ) The li le known Anglo‐Zanzibar War of 1896 is generally considered to be the shortest war in history, las ng for a grand total of 38 minutes. The story begins with the signing of the Heligoland‐Zanzibar treaty between Britain and Germany in 1890. This treaty effec vely drew up spheres of influence between the imperial powers in East Africa; Zanzibar was ceded to Bri sh influence, whilst Germany was given control over mainland Tanzania. With this new found influence, Britain declared Zanzibar a protectorate of the Bri sh Empire and moved to install their own ‘puppet’ Sultan to look a er the region. Hamad bin Thuwaini, who had been a supporter of the Bri sh in the area, was given the posi on in 1893. Build up to the conflict Hamad ruled over this rela vely peaceful protectorate for just over 3 years un l, on August 25, 1896, he died suddenly in his palace. Although the truth will never be fully known about the causes for his death, it is widely believed that his cousin, Khalid bin Barghash, had him poisoned. This belief is compounded by the fact that within a few hours of Hamad’s death, Khalid had already moved into the palace and assumed the posi on of Sultan, all without Bri sh approval. Needless to say the local Bri sh diplomats were not at all happy with this turn of events, and the chief diplomat in the area, Basil Cave, quickly declared that Khalid should stand down. Khalid ignored these warnings and instead star ng gathering his forces around the Palace. These forces were surprisingly well armed, although it’s worth no ng that quite a few of their guns and cannons were actually diploma c gi s that had been presented to the former Sultan over the years! By the end of 25th August, Khalid had his palace secured with almost 3,000 men, several ar llery guns and even a modestly armed Royal Yacht in the nearby harbour. At the same me, the Bri sh already had two warships anchored in the harbour, the HMS Philomel and the HMS Rush, and troops were quickly being sent ashore to protect the Bri sh Consulate and to keep the local popula on from rio ng. Cave also requested backup from another nearby Bri sh ship, the HMS Sparrow, which entered the harbour on the evening of the 25th August. Even though Cave had a significant armed presence in the harbour, he knew that he did not have the authority to open hos li es without express approval of the Bri sh government. To prepare for all eventuali es, he sent a telegram to the Foreign Office that evening sta ng: “Are we authorised in the event of all a empts at a peaceful solu on proving useless, to fire on the Palace from the men‐of‐war?” Whilst wai ng for a reply from Whitehall, Cave con nued issuing ul matums to Khalid but to no avail. The next day, two more Bri sh warships entered the harbour, the HMS Racoon and the HMS St George, the la er carrying Rear‐Admiral Harry Rawson, commander of the Bri sh fleet in the area At the same me, Cave had received a telegraph from Whitehall sta ng: "You are authorized to adopt whatever measures you may consider necessary, and will be supported in your ac on by Her Majesty's Government. Do not, however, a empt to take any ac on which you are not certain of being able to accomplish successfully." The final ul matum to Khalid was issued on the 26th August, demanding that he leave the palace by 9am the next day. That night, Cave also demanded that all non‐military boats leave the harbour in prepara on for war. At 8am the next morning, only one hour before the ul matum expirated, Khalid sent a reply to Cave sta ng: "We have no inten on of hauling down our flag and we do not believe you would open fire on us." Cave replied in true 19th century Bri sh diploma c style, sta ng that he no desire to fire upon the palace “but unless you do as you are told, we shall certainly do so.” The conflict That was the last Cave heard from Khalid, and at 9am the order was given for the Bri sh ships in the harbour to begin bombarding the palace. By 09:02 the majority of Khalid’s ar llery had been destroyed, and the palaces wooden structure had started to collapse with 3,000 defenders inside. It is also around this me, two minutes a er the bombardment started, that Khalid is said to have escaped through a back exit of the palace, leaving his servants and fighters to defend the palace alone.
Page 8 By 09:40 the shelling had ceased, the Sultan’s flag pulled down, and the shortest war in history had officially ended a er only 38 minutes. For such a short war, the casualty rate was surprisingly high with over 500 of Khalid’s fighters killed or wounded, mainly due to the high explosive shells exploding on the palace’s flimsy structure. One Bri sh pe y officer was also severely injured, but later recovered in hospital. With Khalid out of the way, the UK was free to place the pro‐Bri sh Sultan Hamud on the throne of Zanzibar, and he ruled on behalf of Her Majesty's Government for the next six years. As for Khalid, he managed to escape with a small group of loyal followers to the local German Consulate. Despite repeated calls from the Bri sh for his extradi on, he was smuggled out of the country on October 2nd by the German navy and taken to modern day Tanzania. It was not un l Bri sh forces invaded East Africa in 1916 that Khalid was finally captured and subsequently taken to Saint Helena for exile. A er ‘serving me’, he was later allowed to return to East Africa where he died in 1927.
Fort Bragg MPs Con nue Inves ga on of Special Forces 'Squa er'
Apr 29, 2016 | by Richard Sisk Fort Bragg Military Police are con nuing a criminal inves ga on of the startling case of the 20‐year‐old civilian with a long arrest record who allegedly passed himself off as an explosives expert on secret assignment and lived at the 3rd Special Forces Group barracks for several months, a spokesman said Thursday. The review at the central North Carolina military post was separate from the just‐concluded Army Special Opera ons inves ga on, which disclosed an embarrassing series of security failures that led to the individual making room assignments for soldiers and having his girlfriends make pizza and booze runs onto the post for him, said Thomas D. McCollum, a spokesman for the Fort Bragg Garrison. The suspect, tenta vely iden fied as Triston Marquell Chase and now known on Bragg as the "3rd FSG Squa er," would be listed as AWOL if he had been a real soldier. He failed to appear Tuesday in Harne County Court in Lillington, North Carolina, on six civilian felony charges, including a weapons charge, the Faye eville Observer reported. The Harne County Criminal Magistrate's office declined to comment to Millitary.com on whether a warrant had been issued for Chase's arrest, saying informa on could not be given over the phone. McCollum said the MP inves ga on began shortly a er Chase was picked up by Provost Marshals for drunk driving last December and was aimed at finding "any possible criminal ac vity associated with the 3rd SFG squa er." He said "an inves ga on like this is standard whenever it is believed criminal ac vity has taken place." Despite the squa er appearing to have the run of the 3rd FSG barracks, McCollum said, "Our procedures for managing our barracks, approximately 17,000 bed spaces in more than 100 buildings, was reviewed by our Directorate of Public Works and it was determined to be sound." However, all units which "manage barracks spaces and buildings were advised to review their internal standard opera ng procedures for their barracks," he said in an e‐mailed statement. In a separate response on the follow‐up to the Army's own probe of the impostor incident, the Army's Special Opera ons public affairs office said, "Deficiencies iden fied during the inves ga on of the civilian living in the 3rd Special Forces Group Barracks have been corrected. "For example, a senior Non‐Commissioned Officer in Charge has been designated and trained while a Charge Quarters Non‐Commissioned Officer program has been ins tuted" to keep watch over access to the barracks, the statement said. "Addi onally, barracks policy binders have been updated and placed in individuals' rooms" to let soldiers know who's authorized to be there, it said. A redacted version of the Army Special Ops inves ga on of the squa er, obtained by the Faye eville Observer through a Freedom of Informa on request, concluded that Chase was a "con ar st" who had picked up just enough military slang and knowledge to dupe others into believing that he belonged. The inves ga on disclosed significant safety and security issues in the management of the barracks, the newspaper reported. A soldier, who lived in the same barracks as the civilian and loaned the civilian his car, told the Army inves gators, "The barracks are horrible. Security is non‐existent in any way, shape or form. There literally is none at all. There is also zero accountability for anything. Zero for rooms, people, equipment, property, etc. "They're lucky that this guy seemed to be some sort of flake" and not a terrorist, said Lawrence Korb, a former assistant secretary of defense for personnel in the administra on of former President Ronald Reagan. Korb, a military analyst with the Center for American Progress, noted that terror groups repeatedly cite U.S. military bases and personnel as poten al targets. "This guy could have caused all sorts of damage," Korb said. He said the Army must be focused now on "how did this happen?"
Page 9 THE MEMORY OF VIETNAM RESIDES IN THE SENSES Col Keith Nigh ngale June 26 at 2:16pm SOUNDS THUNK OF A ROUND AS IT HITS THE MAN NEXT TO YOU. THE FUCK YOU LIZARD ATNIGHT A CLAYMORE DETONATED RAIN BEATING ON THE TOP OF YOUR JUNGLE HAMMOCK “GOOD MORNING VIIIEETNAAAM” THE SOUND OF THE UH1H’S AS THEY FLY THE “PUNK” OF AN ARTILLERY ILLUM ROUND AND A CRASH AS THE CASING RATTLES THROUGH THE TREES THE CLUNK OF YOUR M16 MAG AS YOU SEAT THE ROUNDS AGAINST THE SIDE OF YOUR HELMET SOUND OF RAIN SIZZLING OFF THE HOT RIFLE BARREL ARTILLERY FIRING DANGER CLOSE 20MM CASINGS HITTING YOUR HELMET AFTER AN F4 PASS THE HOLLOW BLAST OF A 500LB BOMB IN THE JUNGLE THE BEEP AND SILENCE OF THE RADIO WITH A SQUELCH BUTTON THE CLUNK OF A VC 81MM MORTAR ROUND IN THE TUBE THE SIZZLE OF A VC STICK GRENADE WHEN IGNITED SIGHTS THE DUST CLOUD RISING FROM THE SHIRT OF THE MAN NEXT TO YOU AS HE IS HIT YOUR OWN DEAD BODIES AND PARTS AT FIRST LIGHT THE ABNORMAL SPACE BETWEEN THE TOES OF CIVILIANS THE FOUGAS AND CLAYMORE MAP IN THE BUNKER SMOKE GRENADES COURSING THROUGH THE AIR AND SWIRLING AROUND YOU THE CURLING SMOKE FROM THE SHIT BURNERS THE IMAGE OF GIRLS IN AO DAIS ON THE BACK OF CYCLOS THE BLUE HAZE AT THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE THE CLOUDS DISSIPATING AGAINST THE GREEN CANOPY THE PHOSPHOR FLICKERS AND LINES ON THE JUNGLE FLOOR AT NIGHT. SMELLS VIETNAM WHEN THE AIRPLANE DOOR IS OPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME NUOC MAM THE SHIT BURNERS. THE DEEP INNER TRIPLE CANOPY JUNGLE ON A HOT DAY BODIES DAYS AFTER A BAD HEAT TAB JP4 ON A HOTDAY. CORDITE FROM THE M60 AND M16’S MOSQUITO REPELLENT THE FIRST DRENCHING RAIN OF THE SEASON THE JUNGLE AT NIGHT. FEAR
‘Happy Hour’ started with bored sailors.... ( We are the Mighty )
Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, U.S. troops occupied the Mexican port at Veracruz. The occupa on came at a cost to both sides: the Americans lost 20 sailors over the course of killing 150 Mexicans. The violence leveled off a er a few weeks, and life in the city became rela vely rou ne. War correspondents traveling the U.S. Atlan c Fleet became bored with the calm and started to focus on the troops’ everyday life in the hopes that that might yield something their readership would respond to. One of these headlines was “The ‘Happy Hour’ Aboard Ship Makes Tars Contented.” One well‐meaning Navy officer, Lieutenant Jonas Ingram, originated the prac ce of “Happy Hour” aboard his ship, the USS Arkansas. Since the Arkansas was the flagship of Admiral Charles Badger, the commander of the Atlan c Fleet, officers encouraged its spread to the other ships of the fleet and into the ships of the wider U.S. Navy. The prac ce would carry on throughout the coming world wars. The Arkansas ‘Happy Hours’ included athle c compe ons (usually boxing), dancing, and a band while at sea. The enlisted men on board couldn’t drink, as per Navy regula ons since 1899 (though officers could). In port, dancing girls from local bars were the center of the fun. The reports never men on the use of alcohol but while in port, the sailors had easy access to liquor. Navy regula ons at the me only prohibited the sale or issue of booze, not the consump on. When sailors and soldiers returned home from the Great War, they introduced the idea of “Happy Hour” into the American vernacular. The idea of “happy hour” as we know it came from the use of the term in a “Saturday Evening Post” ar cle in 1959, en tled The Men Who Chase Missiles. The ar cle was about U.S. Air Force airmen working at remote island outposts in the Caribbean and how they saved money by not
Page 10 having anywhere to spend it… unless they spent it all at the local watering hole. “Except for those who spend too much during “happy hour” at the bar – and there are few of these – the money mounts up fast.” The USS Arkansas, once a state‐of‐the‐art modern ba leship, found itself obsolete at the end of World War II and did its country one last service – this me in a more of an academic research role.
John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail on July 7, 1775:
"Ci es may be rebuilt, and a People reduced to Poverty, may acquire fresh Property: But a Cons tu on of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty once lost is lost forever. When the People once surrender their share in the Legislature, and their Right of defending the Limita ons upon the Government, and of resis ng every Encroachment upon them, they can never regain it."
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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 I am looking forward to seeing you all enjoy celebra ng the recent publica on of my and share my work. book. Titled “To Order” Captain Ron Books will be sold for $66.00 + $20.00 Flying Life’s Longitudes and Latitudes Shipping. The book Explores the fascina ng life and Call (253) 670‐2760 Or mes of Ron Rismon. E‐mail: [email protected] Page 13 Cdri ng〆) r /he墨顕∃ I bmil i es q/‘ Fdl l en and Wbunded &)eCi al ( 袖erat i ons Fb′ ℃eSf er 35 f ears Apri 1 15, 2016
Dave Shel l Presi dent SFA Chapt er XVI P. 0. Box 33577 Tacoma, WA 98433
Dear Dave:
Thank you, t he SFA Chapt er XVI and t he Heri t age Dist i l l i ng Company f or your generous support t o
Ameri ca’ s Speci al Operat i ons Forces, t hrough your cont ri but i on we recei ved of $7, 608. 1 5 t o t he Speci al Operat i ons Warri or Foundat i on. As you know, Our Speci al Operat ors keep f ai t h wit h our nat i on by Servi ng i n dangerous and di f f i cul t pl aces, enduri ng l ong f amil y separat i ons. When t ragedy st ri kes, Our Foundat i on keeps f ai t h wit h t hem, but onl y because of your cont i nued support .
Our Speci al Operat i ons Forces remai n at “ The Ti p of t he Spear’ ’ i n Syri a, I raq, and A屯hani st an, and
qui et l y go about t hei r busi ness i n over 70 ot her count ri es t hroughout t he worl d every day. Thi rt y- 魚ve Speci al Operat ors di ed i n t he l i ne of dut y i n 2015 and our Foundat i on has made a sol erm pl edge t o ensure f ul l co11ege payment t o t hei r 53 survi vi ng chi l dren. Addi t i onal l y, because of your support , We Were abl e t o provi de i mmedi at e f i nanci al assi st ance t o 1 8 severel y wounded speci al operat ors.
Because of your generous donat i on 161 chi l dren at t ended col l ege i n 2015 and 20 chi l dren compl et ed t hei r degrees and graduat ed col l ege i n 2015. You made i t possi bl e f or t hese chi l dren t o now vent ure f orward t o
make a di f f erence i n worl d! Today, SOWF i s responsi bl e f or 141 col l ege st udent s. Our Foundat i on’ s COunSel ors are worki ng wit h 709 chi l dren who have yet t o reach col l ege age. The Foundat i on al so
PrOVi des home t ut ori ng t o every st udent f rom ki ndergart en t hrough seni or year of col l ege, Shoul d t hey need academic assi st ance. None of t hi s woul d be possi bl e wit hout you!
Your donat i on i s used wisel y. Our Foundat i on recent I y recei ved our l Oth consecut i ve Chari 砂Na高gat or Fbur St ar Rat i ng whi ch pl aces us i n t he t op l % of al l chari t i es rat ed by t hem.
No goods or servi ces were provi ded i n exchange f or your cont ri but i on. Our t ax i dent i 魚cat i on number i s 52- 1183585.
Thank you once agam. 豚窟窃函露日嗣
Si ncerel y,
脅雛フVi ce Admiral , USN, Ret . Presi dent /C EO
PO. Box 89367. f ampa, FL33689. Phone: ( 813) 805- 9400. Fax: ( 813) 805- 0567 Physi cal Add「ess: 1 137 Ma「beI l a Pl aza Dri ve. 鴫mpa, FL 33619 Ema旺War「i o「@speci aI ops. org. Websi t e: WWW.SPeCi ai ops. 0「g
ねx Exempt I D# 52- 1183585 刷ease伯memberus肋J /OWeSぬめp伯ns. 囲
Speci al Forces Associ at i onChapt erXVI , 初h. i f eレ: 吊b畦」 , 7+⊂4J 4任r PO Box 33577 J BLM, WA 98433
Subj ect : Gif t St at ement - Thank You!
」⊇錐坦質逼迫垣, 臆臆臆_ 、_へ_一書_臆臆臆 へヘ音臆 臆
The Speci al Forces Schol arshi p Fund ( SFSF) woul d l i ke t o say “ Thahk You” f or your support of t he
daught ers and sons of t he Green Beret s, and of t he Speci al Forces Regi ment ・ Si nce 201 1, yOu have
generousl y support ed our missi on by gi vi ng $12, 608. 1 5 i n t ax deduct i bl e cont ri but i ons t o t he SFSF:
1/ガ2帥4 § 2, 糊的節 15t 斬鱈囲 帥融「明i ved・鵬g○ ○ d紺も帥唾叩「OVi ded面軟調昭,
耳ユリ糊鰐子ら∴ z, 朗軌的 批斬G担) 軸的k 「さき亀i v巳d・鵬呂的d与り「与的i 鵬叩Vi d富d臨調南門烏e.
可的I z触ら等 ブタ毎的. 胸 15t 群個幽 卸e比「e膳i v亀d一博g○ ○ d毎日r蛇両隣陣r脚i ded面容x師門畠白. 丁O丁Aし与1ZJ 毎腿. 騰
As you know, t he SFSF recogni zes t he servi ce of Green Beret f amil i es by awardi ng meri t - based post SeCOndary educat i onal schol arshi ps t o t he chi l dren of current and vet eran Speci al Forces Sol di ers. Thi s i s t he onl y organi zat i on whose sol e puxpose i s t o provi de schol arshi ps t o t he chi l dren of Green
Beret s. Al l expenses of ruming t he f und are covered by t he f und’ s di rect ors so t hat every dol l ar
donat ed t o t he f und f l ows t hrough di rect l y t o schol arshi ps f or t he chi l dren・ SFSF Schol ars f ul l y underst and t hat t he Green Beret s st and behi nd t hem and t hat t hey are our represent at i ves and best
hope f or t he餌ure. Your generosi t y hel ps us provi de i mproved educat i onal assi st ance t o t hese
f amil i es who sacri f i ce so much f or our f reedom・ Not onl y have you di rect l y support ed t he f amil i es Of Amy Speci al Forces Sol di ers, but you have al so promot ed t he proud l egacy of t he Green Beret s.
Pl ease cont i nue t o share t hi s educat i onal opport uni t y wit h SF f amil i es you know, and do not hesi t at e
Fr。m al l 。f us 。t t h。 Sp。。i al F。r。。S S。h。1ar。hi p Fund, t hanky。u, - → a」。/均c巾とsも
有色十合曾山1∴のナ 図星蛮霊園 Presi dent Speci al Forces Schol arshi p Fund EN 27- 5458794 くロバ芝山「. 珪造園二二重宝些ぐ臆_