Alan L. Boyer, (Non-Member), of Missoula, Montana, was born 8 March 1946. He was attending Forestry School at the University of Montana when he joined the Army at the height of the Vietnam War. Progressively volunteering for the most dangerous and demanding of missions, Al completed Airborne and training and volunteered for the secret war of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG). On March 28, 1968, SGT Boyer, SGT Charles G. Huston and SFC George R. Brown were conducting a reconnaissance mission in Laos, along with eight indigenous personnel. The men were assigned to Spike Team Asp, Forward Operations Base 4, Command and Control Detachment, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), attached to MACV-SOG. About fifteen miles inside Laos, northeast of Tchepone, the patrol made contact with an enemy force and requested exfiltration by helicopter. Because of the terrain in the area, the U.S. Air Force CH-3 helicopter could not land, and a ladder was dropped for the team to climb up to board the aircraft. Seven of the Vietnamese team members made it safety to the helicopter but, as the eighth began climbing, the helicopter began receiving heavy automatic weapons fire, forcing it to leave the area. As SGT Boyer began to climb the ladder, the ladder broke. When last seen during the extraction, the other two U.S. members of the team, Sergeants Brown and Huston, were still on the ground, alive and appeared unwounded. On April 1, a search team led by SGT Chuck Feller was inserted into the area and searched six hours, but failed to locate any evidence of the three missing Americans and the lone Vietnamese. Al Boyer was unaccounted for from 1968 until 2016, when forensic anthropologists of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) used DNA to identify partial remains turned over to the U.S. government by a Laotian national. Following Al's identification, his surviving next-of-kin, his sister Judi Boyer Bouchard, was visited by representatives of DPAA, the chief of the Army casualty operations center and U.S. Army Special Forces. They presented Judi Bouchard with her brother’s awards, including the Silver Star, the third-highest military decoration awarded by the U.S. Armed Forces. Al Boyer will be memorialized in a funeral service at 1:00 p.m. on June 22nd at the Memorial Chapel at Ft. Myer, Virginia, followed by interment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. After the ceremonies, the Special Forces Charitable Trust will host a reception at a location to be announced. SOA members who plan to attend the funeral and/or reception please RSVP to Mike Taylor, [email protected] or 360-588-4756.

Ernest K. Tabata, (Non-Member), SGM (R), Ernie Tabata, 84, of Fayetteville, NC passed away on 10 August, 2015, at the Univ. of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill. Ernie joined the Army in 1949 after graduating from high school in Honolulu. After basic training he went to Ft. Belvoir, VA and became a combat engineer, demolitions and mine warfare specialist. He went to Korea in 1950 with the 14th Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Calvary Division. He both constructed and demolished various kinds of bridges during the Korean War. He left Korea in 1951 as a Staff Sergeant and was discharged. He re-enlisted in 1955, attended jump school and served with the 82nd and 11th Airborne Divisions. In 1961 he volunteered for Special Forces and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group and became a Senior Engineer Sergeant. He went to Laos with operation White Star then returned to Fort Bragg as a Demo Instructor at Training Group. He was assigned to the 1st SFG on Okinawa. He was seriously wounded while TDY to Vietnam. After recovery he went to the Taiwan Resident Team where he helped form the first Nationalist Chinese HALO and SCUBA teams. Then MSG Tabata volunteered to go back to Vietnam with MACV-SOG Op 34. In 1970 he was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group at Ft. Devens, MA as an ODA Team Sergeant and B Detachment Operations NCO. He was the 1SG of B Co., 39th Combat Engineer Battalion where he was promoted to Sergeant Major. He returned to the 7th SFG as a Company SGM where he stayed until his retirement in 1981. In 1984 Ernie began another 25 year career as an instructor at the USAJFKSWCS. From then until his retirement in 2013 he remained on jump status and was making static line jumps with his students. Ernie was undoubtedly one of the best known and respected members of the Special Forces community. There is not a Combat Engineer serving today who has not benefited from Ernie’s vast knowledge and experience. Among his numerous awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars (one for Valor), Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, HALO and SCUBA Badges, Special Forces Tab and numerous foreign wings and awards. He received the USSOCOM Bull Simons Award (the first enlisted man to do so) in 2004. He was the JFKSWCS Instructor of the Year in 1005. He was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the 1st Special Forces Regiment in 2007 and served as the Honorary Sergeant Major of the Regiment from 2010 to 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife. He is survived by his sons; Ernest, George and Herbert, brothers; Lawrence and Robert, and two grandchildren. Standing room only service was held at the JFK Chapel on 21 August with burial in the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery.

Dorothy Boyer, (Non-Member), 92, passed 2 May 2013. Mother of FOB-4 Sgt. Al Boyer (Spike Team Asp), MIA 28 March 1968 in Laos. Al was also at FOB-1 before moving to FOB-4 in late 1967. Our thoughts are with the family.

Mrs. Gerry Parks, (Non-Member), ex-wife of CSM (R) Robert 'Spider' Parks passed away on January 1, 2013, while residing with her daughter Michelle Warburton and her family in Apollo Beach, FL.

Joseph Romero "Joe" Cervantes, (Non-Member), 81, of Asheville, NC went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at his residence. Mr. Cervantes was a native of San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation and had resided in Western North Carolina for the past 20 years. He retired from the U.S. Army where he served in the Special Forces with the rank of Sgt. First Class and also retired as a Patrolman with the Fayetteville Police Department with the rank of Sgt. He was a veteran having served during the Korean War with the U.S. Marine Corp. and the Vietnam War with the U.S. Army. He was a son of the late Atanasio Servin Cervantes and Saladad Estebani Morales Cervantes. Surviving are his wife, Carol Rose Winarsky Cervantes; daughter, Marie C. Smith of Columbia, SC; son, Tracy Cervantes of Fayetteville; grandsons, Bryant Johnson of Columbia, SC and Tyrone Smith of Seekonk, MA and 4 great grandchildren.

Beverly B. (Sam) Croft, (Non-Member), CSM, USA (Ret) passed away 14 Nov 2012.

Charles "Chuck" McGuire, (Non-Member), SGM (Ret), Master of the McGuire Rig, passed away on August 25th, 2012.

Robert N. Taylor, (Non-Member), SGM (Ret), passed away Saturday, July 14, 2012, from natural causes. He served in MACVSOG with CCS.

Roy E. Meeks, (Non-Member), COL, USA (Ret), passed away April 14 2012.

Ralph Reno, (Non-Member), MSG (Ret), 1-1, RT Nevada, lost July 3 1966, services will be Thursday September 8, 2011 at graveside 11 AM at Arlington National Cemetery.

Donald Monroe Shue, (Non-Member), SFC, age 20, died in battle during the Vietnam Conflict on November 3, 1969. He was born August 29, 1949 in Cabarrus County, NC, the son of the late Wesley Monroe Shue and Nellie Mae Lefler Shue. He attended A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis, NC. Donald entered the U.S. Army in 1967 where he served one tour of duty until his untimely death. His family fondly remembers his friendly ways, always loving to smile, and the vast number of friends he easily made throughout his short life. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by a sister, Helen B. Blackwelder and a brother, Billy James Shue who died of diphtheria at age 10. His sister, Peggy S. Hinson reflected on the following comments about him. “Donnie would always come to us for money always smiling with his hand out – Now who come ever turn that down?? If I could only do that again. The first thing I thought about when they told us they found Donnie’s remains was: The ‘Lord’ told us that ‘He’ would bring him home – not our time, but in ‘His’ time. God didn’t say he would be alive or dead --- But this ‘word of knowledge’ was true and did come to pass after 41 years. Praise the Lord for ‘His’ word never fails!!! And with Donnie’s Daddy, Mama, Billy, and Helen looking down at all of us at this memorial in honor of their son and brother. Also in honor of ‘the Green Beret’s, the MAC V SOG, and all our veterans that paid a huge price for our freedom.”

Alice Hornung, (Non-Member), wife of SOA member Ted Hornung, SOA#1181, passed away last year on 17 April 2011.

David Chamizo, (Non-Member), MSG (Ret), passed away March 09, 2011 at the hospital in Tingo Maria, Peru. He was doing what he loved most since his retirement working against the narcotraffic and drug production, as an Advisor for the Eradication of Coca in Peru.

Henryk (Frenchy) Szarek, (Non-Member), 83 years old, of Leominster, formerly of Arlington, died Sunday, February 27, 2011 in Health Alliance-Leominster. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Jeannette C. (Levesque) Szarek, his sons Raymond H. Szarek and his wife Nanita of Newark, NY and Robert J. Szarek of Leominster, his daughter Christine M. Gamez and her husband Robert of Burlington, his sisters Christine Mokzan of France and Daniella Jawien of Poland, 9 grandchildren, Rebecca, Daniel, Timothy, Samantha, Nicole, Conor, Kelsey, Deborah and Anna, and 6 great grandchildren. Mr. Szarek was born in Poland on July 22, 1927, son of Mieczyslaw and Jozefa (Ostrowska) Szarek and had lived in Arlington for 45 years before moving to Leominster 2 years ago. He had been an Electronic Technician, working in Research and Development for many years. He was a U.S. Army Veteran, serving in the Special Forces during the Korean War. Frenchy was a member of St. Cecilia's Church in Leominster, the American Legion in Arlington, the V.F.W. in Cambridge and was a life member of the Special Forces Association Local 54. Many members may remember the 1951 Lodge Act 1 which granted citizenship to foreign nationals who joined the U.S. Army for a period of 5 years. Frenchy is such a soldier. In World War II while serving with the Polish-Russian Army he was wearing the four cornered Polish hat with the Polish Eagle, the emblem of Poland: acting as a motorcycle messenger Knowing Puhsh- Freneh-German and Russian he was also used as a linguist. Frenchy was active in the anti-communist underground, forced to flee through Russian lines to the French allies. There he joined the French Foreign Legion at the age of 19 and volunteered for the elite paratrooper unit "The I-B-E-P. Frenchy fought for several years with the legion in indo-China and Vietnam. After his tour with the Legion he joined the U.S. Army under the Lodge Act and was assigned to the 10th SFGA. He got his citizenship in 1958. Frenchy could speak five languages and served on many Black Operations. He appeared in the movie Beau Geste with Telly Savalas, Guy Stockwell, Doug McClure, and Leslie Nielsen.

Lowell Wesley Stevens Sr.,(Non-Member), 69, of Fayetteville, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. Lowell arrived on this earth as the first child of a coal mining family on July 8, 1941, in Putney, W.Va. The coal mining camp of Putney was located at the head of a 16-mile hollow and no longer exists. He was the son of the late Elmer and Opal Young Stevens. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Larry; and his sister, Jean. He was named after both of his grandfathers, Lowell H. Stevens and John Wesley Young. Lowell was the first one in his family to graduate from high school, but had only two options after doing so; go to work in the coal mines, which had killed his dad, or join the U.S. military. His father had served as a machine gunner in Europe during the last stages of World War II with the 376th Infantry Regiment of the 94th Infantry Division and was immensely proud of his . On July 29, 1959, Lowell entered the U.S. Army, having enlisted for Airborne unassigned. He graduated from Jump School in February 1960, and six years later he was a master parachutist. Later on, he added HALO and HALO Master Wings to his chest. From December 1959 to May 1963, he was a proud member of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky. In May 1963, he volunteered for Special Forces training and completed the course with MOS 112 (Heavy Weapons Infantryman) in November of that year. In November 1963, Lowell was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) located on Okinawa and performed the duties of the Heavy Weapons man on A-Detachments. He served on Detachment A-312 from Company C on a six month TDY mission to South Vietnam from June to December 1964. From May to July 1965, he was a squad leader in the Recon Platoon of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In October 1965, Lowell was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in South Vietnam. Between this date and August 1972, Lowell completed a total of 71 months with the 5th Group in Vietnam. His duties included serving on A-Camps, MACV SOG, Mike Force company commander, and instructor at MACV Recondo School. He served for a total of six years and five months in Vietnam. After Vietnam, he was assigned once again to the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) on Okinawa for 18 months. In April, he was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg. During the last eight years of his military service, he preformed the duties of the team sergeant on Operational Detachments. In his opinion, nothing in the Army was greater or more important than the team sergeant on an ODA. After retiring from the Army on March 1, 1980, he was an owner and operator of a new Peterbilt truck, leased to trucking companies that specialized in hauling steel and machinery until July 1983. During these 3 1/2years, he traveled the continental United Sates and visited with his rig all but two of our states. He enjoyed seeing our country from the vantage point afforded him by the cab of his truck. In July 1983, he started work on Camp Mackall as the range control representative. He took an intense interest in the history of Mackall and for more than 27 years, he endeavored all but daily to learn the rich history of the "home of the Airborne during World War II." He said many times that his service in Vietnam and his time at Camp Mackall defined his life and provided a degree of contentment that few men ever realized. On Sept. 1, 2010, Lowell retired from civil service on Fort Bragg with more than 47 years of enjoyable service with the federal government. Although he did not like to enumerate the awards he received while in the Army, it is customary to do so, so here it goes: Silver Star Medal (three awards), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (six awards), Purple Heart (two awards), Combat Infantryman Badge, and a handful of "I was there" awards. He was most proud of his Vietnam Campaign Medal, which indicated that he was awarded 16 campaigns out of a total of 17 awarded for the entire Vietnam War. He is survived by his sister, Frances Stevens James and husband Cecil, of Thomson, Ga.; his wife of more than 35 years, Emiko; son, Lowell Jr. and wife Lauri; daughters, Natalie Stevens and husband Bart Palmer and Cheryl Stevens Mericle; two grandsons, Chance Palmer and Brandon Stevens; and two granddaughters, Brooke Stevens and Chasity Palmer, all of Fayetteville. Memorial services will be held at Rogers and Breece Funeral Home chapel in Fayetteville on Monday, Jan. 31, 2011, at 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Sandhillls Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lakes with full military honors. Services entrusted to Rogers and Breece Funeral Home of Fayetteville.

John W. “Jack” Green, III, (Non-Member), born 5 Nov 1938, died 11 Dec 2010 in his native Baton Rouge, Lousianna. Jack is survived by his wife Linda and a host of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A Memorial was held at Broadmoor United Methodist Church on 18 Dec 2010. A private inurnment at Roselawn Memorial Park for family was conducted. Jack Green was a graduate of ORWAC Class 64-1. CPT Jack Green was a member of the 145th Airlift Platoon in Vietnam. The 145th was the legacy unit for the 281st Assault Helicopter Company which arrived in theater at Nha Trang, RVN in early 1966. Jack, a senior Aircraft Commander and Operations Officer with the 145th was instrumental in the train-up of the 281st and its development into the first US Army, Special Operations Helicopter unit. He worked with members of 5th SFG, B-52, Project Delta in the implementation of the McGuire Rig for the extraction of Recon Teams. Jack Green flew the first emergency extraction utilizing the McGuire Rig in a UH-1B for Project Delta. Among his awards and decorations are two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Upon release from Active Duty, Jack became a member of the and served for a few years until business interest caused him to leave the military. He was a successful contractor in Baton Rouge for many years and was enjoying his retirement at the time of his death. He was a member of Broadmoor United Methodist Church, Mid City Model Rail Roader and a friend of Bill W. He also served on the board of BRAADC. Jack was a Founding Life Member and Past President of the 281st AHC Association, a Life Member of VHPA and the Special Operations Association. His last mission for the 281st AHC Association was a trip to Ft Drum, New York where he and other members met with members of G Co, 2/10 Avn who were about to deploy to Afghanistan. G Company honored the 281st by reviving the "Intruder" call sign of the 281st to use during their deployment.

FRED BRADLEY SCHOOMAKER (“BRAD”), (Non-Member), 88, died peacefully on June 21, 2010 with family members at his side at the McGraw Center for Caring (Community Hospice of Northeast Florida), in Jacksonville, Florida. Following his death, a private family service was held, with plans for inurnment and a service with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. A native of Three Rivers, MI, Brad Schoomaker attended Western Michigan and Michigan State College (now MSU) where he met his future wife, Frances E. Vargha of Detroit, MI. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and completed Officer Candidate School (OCS) two years later. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery on June 16, 1944, he began a long and storied military career. His wartime service to our country took him to Europe in World War II, to the landing at Inchon and service on the Korean Peninsula during the Korean War, as well as Saigon during the early stages of the Vietnam War. Brad and Frances were married in 1943 in Detroit, MI prior to his deployment for WW II. Even the challenges of repeated wartime service during WWII , Korea, and Vietnam didn’t prevent them from successfully raising a family of four boys. In addition to his foreign travels during wartime service, Brad’s military service took him to: Ft. Sill, OK; the Canal Zone in Panama; the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS; the Army War College in Carlisle, PA; the Pentagon; and Stuttgart, Germany. Brad completed his 32-year Army career when he retired in 1974 as a Colonel in the Field Artillery. This was followed by a second career working for Braddock, Dunn & McDonald (BDM International) in Fairfax, VA as a nuclear operations analyst, before he and Fran fully retired in 1986 Following retirement, the couple moved from Annandale, VA and lived briefly in Advance, NC before finally settling in Cypress Village in Jacksonville, FL in 1993. Brad’s greatest joys in recent years were being a volunteer at Mayo Clinic assisting with the transport of patients, involvement with friends and neighbors in the community, and traveling to Canada visiting friends and family along the way. Brad is survived by Frances, his wife of 67 years, his four sons and their wives, eleven grandchildren and spouses, and five great grandchildren including: Pete & Cindy Schoomaker [Wendy, Lara (& MJ Winchester) and Andrew]; Eric & Audrey Schoomaker [Heidi, Kayla & Evan]; Mark & Jane Schoomaker [Matthew & Peter]; and Paul & Lee Schoomaker [James (& Julie with Isabel & Brad), Carrie (& John Dolton with Sophia, Amelia & Ethan) and Sara (& Sean Kelly). Full military honors and inurnment are planned for Brad at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA on Friday, October 29, 2010, at 11:00. In lieu of any flowers or other gifts, Brad requested that he be memorialized with donations to: Special Operations Warrior Foundation (http://www.specialops.org/), or your local hospice organization.

PETE ANDRE, (Non-Member), COL, SF, USA (Ret.), died 27 June 2010. The specific cause of death is not known to this writer but Pete had suffered for many years with ever more debilitating multiple sclerosis (MS). For the last few months he had been in a number of hospitals, care centers, etc. Pete was of a rare breed. He discovered Special Forces while it was still new and he was a lieutenant. He became what he characterized as a "True Believer." Ever after he self-identified as a Special Forces soldier and officer. His career spanned the era when a Special Forces assignment was deeply frowned upon by an officer's parent branch---particularly Pete's branch, Infantry---and pursuit of a second such assignment was equated to career suicide. Pete was one of the 'dedicated defiant'; telling branch managers with well chosen words what he thought, what he wanted and what they should do. He served in a rich variety of assignments from being an instructor in early SF officer training to being a member of a small SF team in that trained the Cuban brigade that invaded Cuba at the ill starred Bay of Pigs. He served in Laos in the White Star program and in Vietnam both with Studies and Observation Group (SOG) and as an advisor to the Korean division. Many older special operations veterans will remember him from Special Forces' bleak years following Vietnam when from his Unconventional Warfare position at Readiness Command (REDCOM) he initiated and executed an effort to identify equipment and techniques to support Special Forces and SEAL operational missions. Because of the paucity of assigned assets, the successes of this program were largely dependent on his abilities to describe, convince, wheedle, and cajole. His forte was managing to add experimental equipment tests to approved joint exercises, thereby acquiring needed support. During his twentieth year of service he discovered he had MS. He determined that he was not going to let it control his life. By pacing himself and care he managed to serve an additional nine years before he felt that for the good of the Army and himself, he should retire. During retirement Pete and another similarly afflicted officer built an information support net for military personnel who discovered that they had MS. Typically of Pete, he would listen to no complaints or 'why me?' but was ready to provide the best available information, flavored by his experiences. Special Forces was fortunate in the days before the protection of personnel specialties, a combat arms branch, and recognition of its value to have such officers as Pete Andre.

JERRY HOWLAND, (Non-Member), first 1-0 of RT Hawaii in 1966-67, passed away this morning at 1:45am. Upon retiring he became the Fayetteville, NC city engineer. The surviving family members are working on his funeral arrangements. There will be services at Reeves Funeral Home 3308 N. Main St. Hope Mills, NC 28348 910-424-3700.

RALPH W. "PAPPY" SHELTON, (Non-Member), MAJ. Prior to OCS Pappy had 10 years enlisted service, making him one of the “old” men of the group. Pappy came to OCS as an MSG, having served in Germany (8ID), several stateside posts, Japan (1CAV) and Korea. Pap was in G Co 19th Inf Regt 24th ID during the Korean War’s early fighting. Pap’s military schools include Inf Car Crs, Special Forces Off Crs, Unconventional Warfare, Jumpmaster, and Language School (Spanish). Awards include SS, JSCM, two ACMs w/V and CIB w/Star. Assignments include Plt Ldr, Co XO and CO and SF Det Cmdr and Operations Officer. Pappy say the most significant event of his career was heading the Mobile Training Team—MTT Shelton—from Panama to Bolivia in 1967. He trained the Ranger Bn that fought Che Cuevara’s guerrilla band, defeated the band and captured Che on 8 October 1967. Another significant assignment was with the White Star MTT in Laos, January-July 1962, another secret action at the time. Pappy retired from the Army in August 1968. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Memphis State in 1977 and his master’s degree there in 1980. His major employment since retiring from the military in 1968 has been as JROTC instructor for Memphis city schools and as training officer for the U.S. Office of Personnel Mgmt. Pap and his first wife, Margaret, had one son and four daughters. He and Susan, a lawyer, were married in August 1974. He retired the second time 2 May 1994.

RICHARD E. JENKINS, (Non-Member), SSG, Former SOG Recon member, passed away March 13, 2010. Richard “Big Jenks” was a member of RT Iowa, Jerry Wareing 10, in 1966 in FOB 2, Kontum. Later, toward the end of his tour, he moved to Kham Duc with Jerry Howland and Snuffy Conroy to establish a training program for Nungs recruited for the Hatchet Forces. He left the Army to return to civilian life and was not a member of the SOA. Jenkins last rank held was SSG E-6. Originally from Maine, Big Jenks lived in Vancouver, WA at the time of his passing. He is survived by a daughter, Deborah Brooks.

DONALD T. HAYAKAWA, (Non-Member), SFC, US Army, retired, passed away 5 September 2009 at Winter Park, Florida. "Haki" served in Project Delta 1965. He also served in the 5th (1962-1964 & 1968), 3rd, 6th, 10th Special Forces Group and 46th (CO D,1st) Special Forces Company and was a veteran of the Korean War.

RICHARD A. "DICK" DELANEY, (Non-Member), age 79, passed away July 17, 2009 at his home due to ALS "Lou Gehrig's Disease". He was born in Exeter, Neb., on Jan. 8, 1930 to Alven L. and Eva G. Delaney. He is preceded in death by his parents and only sibling, Betty J. Wyant. Dick spent over 30 years in the Army, beginning with basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas and then on to Jump School at Ft. Benning, GA. Upon completion of Jump School, he joined the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, N.C. He then went to Special Forces, serving at Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Gulick, Canal Zone, Fort Devens, MA., as well as two tours in Vietnam. He also served 3 vrs. with USMILGP, Bogota, Columbia, S.A. While in service he received the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 1st thru 9th Awards, Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal w/1 OLC, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Vietnam Parachute Badge and the Legion of Merit. He was also an ROTC instructor for St. Bonaventure University, N.Y., and Haines City Jr. High, FL. Mr. Delaney is survived by his wife of 56 years; Doris and two sons; Michael of Dundee, FL., James (Kim) Newport News, VA.; two daughters, Katherine (Bernard) Carin, Leominster, MA., Carol (Orland) Olsen, Winter Haven, FL.; 7 grand and 7 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Polk County, Lake Hamilton Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 116, Lake Hamilton, FL., or ALS Assoc. Fla. Chapter, 3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, FL., 33619. Interment is at Bushnell National Cemetery.

PHILLIP S. SALZWEDEL, (Non-Member), MSG, US Army, retired, passed away in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Phillip served with Project Delta.

CHRIS THOMPSON, (Non-Member), son of Lynn E. Thompson, SOA 1401-GA, passed away 5 September 2008.

KAY JOHNSON, (Non-Member), wife of Roy Johnson, SOA # 1458-GL, passed away 24 August 2008 in Tampa, Florida.

DALLAS W. JOHNSON, (Non-Member), SGM, US Army, retired passed away 22 August 2008 at the VA Hospital Hospice Center in Tucson, AZ. Dallas enlisted in the Army in December 1950, and retired in April 1971, while serving in the 10th Special Forces Group. He served in Korea and was assigned to Special Forces units on a number of occasions, including three tours in Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group. Dallas was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1966 for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Dong Xoai. His other individual awards include the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (Silver Star), Combat Infantry Badge with Star, Master Parachutist Badge, and numerous other awards and decorations. He leaves a wife, Glenna, 2 sons, 1 daughter, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

BURT A. PENDERGRASS, (Non-Member), US Army, retired, passed away 19 July 2008. Burt was a veteran of Lang Vei when it was overrun the first time, and the Mobile Guerrilla Forces, 5th Special Forces Group. Among his awards and decorations are the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

MSG MITCHELL W. YOUNG, (Non-Member), US Army, son-in-law of Robert Gilstrap, SOA Member # 737-GA, was killed in action in Afghanistan 13 July 2008. MSG Young had previously served in SFOD-D.

TERRENCE L. MORRONE, (Non-Member), MSG, US Army, retired, passed away 12 July 2008. Terry served two tours with B-52 Project Delta, 5th Special Forces Group in the Republic of Vietnam.

BETTE LeTOURNEAU, (Non-Member), mother of Doug LeTourneau, SOA # 2062- GA, passed away 12 July 2008.

ROBERT “BOB” GILMORE, (Non-Member), passed away 15 June 2008. Bob served in the 5th Airborne Ranger Company in Korea. He was formally Vice President of RICA, Ranger Infantry Companies Airborne Association (of the Korean War).

DONALD D. “DON” BLACKBURN, (Non-Member), BG, US Army, retired, passed away 24 May 2008. At the outbreak of World War II, he was serving as an advisor to a battalion of the 12th Infantry, Philippine Army. Upon the fall of Bataan in April 1942, he evaded capture and until October 1945 conducted guerrilla warfare on the island of Luzon. Since World War II, he has served in various command and staff assignments. In 1957, he was assigned to MAAG, Vietnam, and served as the senior advisor to the commanding general, 5th Military Region (Mekong Delta). In October 1958, he was assigned as commanding officer, 77th Special Forces Group where he was instrumental in initiating Special Forces operations in Southeast, Asia. He attended the 1960 class of the National War College. He served as deputy director of developments for special warfare, Office of the Chief of Research and Development from 1961-1964, and then was reassigned to the office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations as director of special warfare. He was Commander SOG (Studies and Observations Group) Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, from May 1965 to May 1966. He was the director of plans and programs, office of the Chief of Research and Development from October1968 until his retirement in 1971. BG Blackburn has been awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Gold Star Medal (Philippines), the Medal of Merit (Philippines), Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Philippines Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Master Parachutists Badge. Following his military retirement, Blackburn took a position with Braddock, Dunn and McDonald, where he served as vice president, special projects until 1979 when he retired. BG Blackburn is survived by his daughter, Susan B. Douglas of Sarasota, Florida; a son, Donald D, Jr. of Los Gatos, California.

DONALD L. MELVIN, (Non-Member), CSM, US Army retired, passed away 9 May 2008. Donald served the Mobile Guerrilla Force, CCN and CCC.

LARRY SALMON, (Non-Member), LTC, US Army retired, passed away 14 April 2008. Larry served in IV Corps Mike Force.

BEN KNIPP POLSTON, MSG, (Non-Member), US Army, retired, passed away 9 April 2008. Ben served II Corps Mike Force and MACV-SOG.

HERBERT R. ZEHENDER, (Non-Member), COL, US Air Force retired, passed away 4 March 2008. On November 20, 1970, he was co-pilot of “Banana One”, HH-3, which crash landed at Son Tay, Vietnam, in an effort to rescue American Prisoners who were held there.

JOY BUTLER WILSON, (Non-Member), daughter of SOA Member Burrell “Rat” Wilson # 1111, passed away 1 March 2008.

MARY LAWLEY,(Non-Member), wife of SOA Member Wayne Lawley #1772, passed away 29 February 2008.

MRS JOYCE LUTZ, (Non-Member), wife of deceased SOA Member # 960, MG Joe Lutz, passed away 26 February 2008.

THOMAS R. “ROCKY” LANE, (Non-Member), SGM, US Army retired, passed away 5 February 2008. Rocky served with the 8240 AU during the Korean War and II Corps Mike Force during the Vietnam War.

EDWARD K. MILLER, (Non-Member), SGM, US Army retired, passed 1 February 2008. Ed served with OP 34, MACV-SOG. He also served with the 1st Special Forces Group and the Taiwan Resident Team.

THOMAS CUNNINGHAM SR., (Non-Member), father of Tom Cunningham J., SOA # 79-GL, passed away 12 January 2008.

ROBERT E. SCHOFIELD, (Non-Member), LTC, US Army retired passed away 22 December 2007. Robert served with OP 36, MACV-SOG.

JAMES L. LYONS, (Non-Member), CSM, US Army retired, passed away 25 Nov 2007. James served with “White Star” in Laos in 1962. He also served 7th, 10th, Det A, 5th and 8th Special Forces Groups.

BILLY J. JOHNSON, (Non-Member), CSM, US Army retired, passed away 21 November 2007. Billy served in TF3AE during the Vietnam. He also served in the 77th, 1st, 5th, 7th and 10th Special Forces Groups.

ROGER A. MILLER SR, (Non-Member), MSG, US Army retired, passed away 20 October 2007. Roger served with MACV-SOG. He also served with the 77th, 5th, 1st, and 10th Special Forces Groups.

WADE T. SAUNDERS, (Non-Member), SFC, US Army retired, passed away 19 October 2007. Wade served with the 8240th AU during the Korean War and the 5th Special Forces Group during the Vietnam War.