Archive for the ‘History’ Category
Happy Birthday US Navy!
Tuesday, October 13th, 2020SCUBAPRO Sunday – Operation Gothic Serpent
Sunday, October 4th, 2020Yesterday and today October 3rd and 4th is the Day of the Rangers, Battle of Mogadishu or better known as Blackhawk Down. Task Force Ranger was tasked with conducting a raid to capture two lieutenants of a Somali warlord. Task Force Ranger was made of members of C squadron of the 1st Special Forces Group Detachment Delta and B company of 3rd Ranger Battalion, Task Force 160 Special Operation Aviation Regiment, SEALs from Naval Special Warfare Development Group and Air Force Pararescuemen and Combat Controllers from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron. They were transported to the target by ground and helicopters. The mission should have only taken about an hour. They inserted around 1350 local time, from the start they found themselves under heavy fire. When two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down (the first being around 1620 local) it quickly went from a snatch and grab to a rescue and recovery. A long ground battle to place and the U.S. forces were heavily outnumbered. By the time the last Troops made it to safety at a UN base it was around 0640 local on the 4th.
While leaving the last crash site, a group of Rangers and Delta operators led by SSG John R. Dycus realized that there wasn’t enough room in the vehicles for them and they were forced to move out on foot to a rendezvous point on National Street but they ended up going all the way back to the UN Base. This is known as the Mogadishu Mile. They think it was anywhere from 3.5 to 4 miles.
Casualties included 19 dead American soldiers and 73 wounded, with Malaysian forces suffering one death and seven wounded, and Pakistani forces suffering one death and two injuries. There were between 315 and 2,000 Somali casualties. Two Medals of Honor were posthumously awarded to MSG Gary Gordan and SFC Randy Shughart for their actions on the ground to protect one of the pilots (Mike Durant) and the crash site.
1st SFOD-D
MSG Gary Gordon Killed defending the crew of Super Six-Four Medal of Honor
SFC Randy Shughart Killed defending the crew of Super Six-Four Medal of Honor
SSG Daniel Busch Crashed on Super Six-One, died from wounds received defending the downed crew Silver Star
SFC Earl Fillmore Killed moving to the first crash site Silver Star
SFC Matt Rierson Killed on October 6, 1993 by a mortar which landed just outside the hangar Silver Star
MSG Tim “Griz” Martin Died from wounds received on the Lost Convoy Silver Star and Purple Heart
3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
CPL Jamie Smith Died of wounds with the pinned-down force around crash site one Bronze Star with Valor Device and Oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart
SPC James Cavaco Killed on the Lost Convoy Bronze Star with Valor Device
SGT Casey Joyce Killed on the Lost Convoy Bronze Star with Valor Device
PFC Richard “Alphabet” Kowalewski Killed on the Lost Convoy Bronze Star with Valor Device
SGT Dominick Pilla Killed on Struecker’s convoy Bronze Star with Valor Device
SGT Lorenzo Ruiz Killed on the Lost Convoy Bronze Star with Valor Device
160th SOAR (Nightstalkers)
SSG William Cleveland Crew chief on Super Six-Four-killed Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
SSG Thomas Field Crew chief on Super Six-Four-killed Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
CW4 Raymond Frank Copilot of Super Six-Four-killed Silver Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
CW3 Clifton “Elvis” Wolcott Pilot of Super Six-One and died in crash Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
CW2 Donovan “Bull” Briley Copilot of Super Six-One and died in crash Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
2nd Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade 10th Mountain Division
SGT Cornell Houston Killed on the rescue convoy Bronze Star with Valor Device, de Fleury Medal
PFC James Martin Killed on the rescue convoy Purple Heart
SOAR XLIV – A Virtual Experience – Oct 19 thru 22 via Zoom
Sunday, October 4th, 2020
Special Operations Association Virtual Reunion (SOAR) XLIV is taking place 19-22 October via Zoom. The SOA is second in size only to the Special Forces Association when it comes to Special Forces members, but SOA is open to a wider audience.
Because the reunion is virtual, there are no fees and it’s been opened up to all Special Forces members & Veterans, and those interested in MACV-SOG history.
Several events will be of interest to many of of you. The Plei Me Webinar, the SF Authors Book talk, vendor tables, the POW/MIA presentation, MOH Video presentation on SGM Thomas “Patrick” Payne, the SOA Video History Project update, and, of course, hospitality rooms where you can socialize with your friends.
The Anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu
Saturday, October 3rd, 2020Everyday marks an anniversary of a significant event in American military history, but today stands out among them.
On this date in 1993, US service members were engaged in what is now known as the Battle of Mogadishu. A joint organization was formed named ” TF Ranger” to deploy to Mogadishu, Somalia in support of a UN-led humanitarian mission. Already having conducted operations for some time, on 3 October they raided the city’s Olympic Hotel in order to capture key leaders of the Aidid Militia.
Unfortunately, during the exfil portion of the raid, a battle ensued which claimed the lives of 18 Americans and wounded another 73. Additionally, CW3 Michael Durant was captured by the Aideed militia. Fortunately, Durant was later repatriated and went on to retire from the 160th.
Of the men killed that day, two would be awarded the Medal of Honor, Delta Operators Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart, for their selfless efforts to protect Durant after his aircraft, callsign Super 64, was shot down.
If you are unfamiliar with the events, one of the best accounts of the battle is contained in the book, “Blackhawk Down” by author Mark Bowden. Much of the information was serialized prior to the book’s publication in the Philadelphia Enquirer. Later this was made into a movie bearing the same name.
Please take a moment to remember these men and their sacrifice.
Additionally, the 75th Ranger Regiment was created on this day in 1984, with the stand up of its 3rd Battalion. Thirty-five years later, the Ranger Regiment boasts boasts five battalions of some of the most elite warriors on the face of our planet.
The Story of the Development of the Spuhr Stock
Wednesday, September 30th, 2020Here is the story, in founder Håkan Spuhr’s own words:
I never liked the G3, it has always been awkward to handle, never really thought about why, but it’s an ergonomical disaster!
Anyway, I do have a G3 in my collection and for some reason in 2012 I just stood and played with it. I realized the stock is way too long and that is the result of the G3 cheekbone chruncher!
That is the stockhump that smashes your face in the prone firing position. The reason they made the hump was the mistake in using a low profile ironsight!
If they had used high sights like the M16, the G3 would never been the ergonomic disaster it became!
You can easily see on users that the original stock absolutely sucks and is far too long as most users use the so-called rookiegrip, supporthand on magazine.
That is the body’s own reaction when LOP is too long to put the support hand further back.
I had a German wooden stock, so I put that on the bandsaw, shortened it 5-7 cm and cut the cheekpiece off. I then crudely glued on a wooden piece and belt sanded it very rough.
I called a friend and we met at the range. We were both immediately very satisfied with the handling of the gun.
When I got back home I machined an adapter so I could install a std AR15 buffertube and a magpul stock to the gun.
But as the major malfunction on the G3 is the hump, I had to place the buffertube as high as possible to kill the hump!
The negative thing was there was no space for the buffer anymore, so I made a simple rubber buffer.
We shot quite a lot with it and shared a movie so people could see the effect of a good stock placement.
In 2015-2016 the Swedish Defence Force got interested and they started a tender that we won, and I think it’s rather amazing that I got them to realize the problem and then delivered the solution.
But in the tender it was a MUST criteria that the original buffer should be used, and that was really annoying as I was short on time and had to design an all new stock that housed the buffer. But with cheekpiece and buttplate way higher.
The result was adopted and a few years later the Portuguese Marines followed and so did the German Federal Police on their MP5s.
I think it was a success, but of course one can always argue that it should be a folder instead. Thing is, when a gun is upgraded, the cost must be held low in order to get adopted.
SCUBAPRO Sunday – National Gold Star Family Day
Sunday, September 27th, 2020Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day is observed on the last Sunday in September. Also known as National Gold Star Mother’s Day, it honors the mothers and families of fallen military service members. The observance began during World War I and was created to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter who served our country in the Armed Forces. On June 23, 1936, a joint congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day and proclaimed annually by each president.
The history of National Gold Star Mother’s Day and their families begins with the U.S. entering WW1. An Army Captain Robert L. Queasier, whose two sons were serving on the front-line, created what is now called the Service Flag. The flag was displayed (normally hung in a window) with a blue star to represent a child serving in the military during times of war or hostilities. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of someone in the family in the service.
A Gold Star Family is the immediate family member of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict. A Gold Star Family can display a Gold Star Service Flag for service members who were killed or died, while serving in the Armed Forces, from causes other than dishonorable. The number of gold stars on the flag corresponds to with the number of individuals who were killed or died. A gold star is placed over the blue star on a Blue Star Service Flag so that the blue forms a border and creates Gold Star Service Flag. The U.S. Department of Defense also issues Gold Star lapel pins to immediate family members of a fallen service member of the military. These pins can be worn by spouses, parents, and children of service members killed in the line of duty and contain a gold star on a purple circular background.
The Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defenses ask President Wilson to authorize that mothers who had lost a child who served in the war could wear a traditional black mourning armband with a gold gilt star in 1918. This approval led to the tradition of a gold star covering the blue star on the Service flag to show that the service member had passed. It’s is also believed that Wilson coined the term “Gold Star Mother.”
George Washington once said, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” I believe this is also true when it comes to our veterans and families of the fallen. There are many groups and organization out there that help the family’s, but nothing will replace the fallen service member. But being involved with the family and helping those organizations is an amazing way to stay connected to your brothers and sisters that are gone.
Later this week on Tuesday the 29th is St Michaels day. In the Christian, Jewish and Islamic he is known for leading gods’ arms against satan. He is not really a saint but an archangel. In medieval Christianity he was made a patron saint of chivalry, now he is considered the patron saint of Law Enforcement, Military and Paramedics (technically medics also have/ lean towards St Luke and St Albert). Please take a minute or two on Tuesday and say thank you for having people that will do those jobs. Even if it is just saying it in your mind to yourself.
Green Beret Anniversary
Monday, September 21st, 2020
On 21 Sep 1961, The Green Beret became the official headgear of the US Army Special Forces.
An Imprecise History of the US Army Security Agency Special Operations Detachments
Sunday, September 20th, 2020Organic to each of the US Army’s Special Forces Groups are small teams of Signal Intelligence specialists operating in teams called Special Operations Team – Alpha or SOT-A. These in turn are supported by fewer still SOT-Bs. I served on a SOT-A from 1990-96 in 2nd Bn, 3rd SFG(A). The SOTs-A are the direct descendants of the United States Army Security Agency Special Operations Detachments (USASASODs).
While other SOF components have stood up SIGINT support elements over the past decade, SF has had the dedicated capability since before the Vietnam War.
Photograph: The 403rd SOD courier run – Plei Ku to Kontum – 1968 (Photo: INSCOM)
What follows is an “imprecise” history of thier existence from an ASA veteran website.
AN IMPRECISE HISTORY OF THE USASASODS
In the history of mankind, there are fleeting moments of time where, by fate or good judgement on the part of someone, a group of people are brought together at the most appropriate time and place or places to form extraordinary military units.
One such fleeting moment of history, was the formation and life cycle of an extraordinary military unit called the United States Army Security Agency Special Operations Detachment, more commonly referred to as the ASASOD.
One may ask why the ASASODs were called extraordinary and not elite. There are many elite military organizations such as the Roman Legions, Merrill’s Marauders, Rangers, Special Forces, SEALs, etc., however, there are few extraordiary units such as the ASASODs.
Why were the SODs extraordinary? Certainly, the timing was there and so were the places. But, the thing that really made the SOD an extraordinary unit was the people… good Special Forces soldiers…good technicians…loyal, dedicated, brave men…but, most of all, trusted and true friends.
The first SOD was originally formed at Vint Hill Farms Station, VA and relocated to FT Bragg, NC during the summer of 1960 with the 5th and 7th SFG(A)s. Later in 1960, units were organized and located in Okinawa with the 1st SFG(A) and Bad Toelz, GE with the 10th SFG(A). These original SODs were then designated as the 1st (1st SF), 2d (10th SF), 3d (7th SF), and 4th (5th SF) Operational Detachments of the 80th USASA Special Operations Unit (80th USASASOU).
In 1962 these Operational Detachments of the 80th SOU were redesignated as USASA Radio Research Units (RRUs); the 10th RRU (400th SOD) 1st SFG(A), and the 11th RRU (401st SOD) 8th SFG(A) was created, 12th RRU (402d SOD) 10th SFG(A), and the 13th RRU (403d SOD) 5th SFG(A).
During 1963 the units were again redesignated to the final designations we know them as today; the 400th ASASOD, 1st SFG(A); 401st ASASOD, 8th SFG(A); 402d ASASOD, 10th SFG(A); 403d ASASOD, 5th SFG(A) until Jan 64, 7th SFG(A) until Jan 65, and then to the 3d SFG(A) until the 403d’s deployment to RVN with the 5th SFG(A) in 1966.
The SODs remained the same from 1966 until the post-Viet Nam stand down of Special Forces during the early 1970s. With the stand down of the 5th SFG(A) in Viet Nam, the 403d was deactivated and was never again reactivated. On deactivation of the 8th SFG(A) in Panama, the 401st was deactivated for a short while and later reactivated with the 7th SFG(A) at Ft Bragg, NC. In 1974, on deactivation of the 1st SFG(A), the 400th was redeployed from Okinawa to Ft Bragg with the 5th SFG(A). The 402d redeployed from Germany with the 10th SFG(A) to Ft Devens, MA.
The official end of the USASASODs as United States Army Security Agency units came with the deactivation of HQs, USASA and conversion to Combat Electronic Warfare Intelligence (CEWI) organizations in December, 1976. However, even after the designation of USASA, the SODs continued to carry the ASASOD unit designations into the early 1980s when they were redesignated as Combat Intelligence Companies.
By the late 80s, the CBTI Cos were broken apart into Battalion level Military Intelligence Detachments in addition to a Group-level MID. The SOT-As went to the Bn MIDs, three a piece, along with a single SOT-B per Bn. The Group retained the TCAE.
