beret
beret
MTT (mobile training team) in Chiriqui Province, near the Costa Rican boarder.
MTT (mobile training team) in Chiriqui Province, near the Costa Rican boarder.
With soldiers of La Guardia Naccional, the Panamanian military.
With soldiers of La Guardia Naccional, the Panamanian military.
Australian rappel
Australian rappel
Rappelling normally.
Rappelling normally.
Graduation from Special Forces scuba school, the physically toughest event of my life.
Graduation from Special Forces scuba school, the physically toughest event of my life.
Completion of the 120 foot qualification dive at scuba school. I'm on the left, Sergeant Jimmy Eason, in gear, on the right. Sergeant John Gebhardt rear left, Sergeant Robert Dunn rear right.
Completion of the 120 foot qualification dive at scuba school. I'm on the left, Sergeant Jimmy Eason, in gear, on the right. Sergeant John Gebhardt rear left, Sergeant Robert Dunn rear right.
Beneath the MC1-1 maneuverable.
Beneath the MC1-1 maneuverable.
Attaching a blasting cap to det chord. ODA-9 was using commercial dynamite to destroy an abandoned commerical building. Most of us had blaster's headache because the dynamite contained nitro.
Attaching a blasting cap to det chord. ODA-9 was using commercial dynamite to destroy an abandoned commerical building. Most of us had blaster's headache because the dynamite contained nitro.
Heading for the Chagres jungle for several weeks. The other soldier is SSG Jimmy Johnson, ODA-9's recon man (operations and intelligence), one of the most interesting, perhaps most dangerous, characters you'd ever meet.
Heading for the Chagres jungle for several weeks. The other soldier is SSG Jimmy Johnson, ODA-9's recon man (operations and intelligence), one of the most interesting, perhaps most dangerous, characters you'd ever meet.
Sgt Maris Purgailis, ODA-9's junior medic, and SSG Jimmy Johnson. Pugailis was exceptionally intelligent and easily got through the 53 week SF medic course at Ft. Sam Houston.
Sgt Maris Purgailis, ODA-9's junior medic, and SSG Jimmy Johnson. Pugailis was exceptionally intelligent and easily got through the 53 week SF medic course at Ft. Sam Houston.
Company B SF teams blowing a helicopter landing zone in the heart of the Chagres jungle.
Company B SF teams blowing a helicopter landing zone in the heart of the Chagres jungle.
Sergeant Danny Browning, a great friend from (then) Master Sergeant Warren Pochinski's team. He was the best "demo" man I ever met.
Sergeant Danny Browning, a great friend from (then) Master Sergeant Warren Pochinski's team. He was the best "demo" man I ever met.
Plastic C-4, fuse and blasting caps.
Plastic C-4, fuse and blasting caps.
SSG Max Chacon, the senior combat engineer on ODA-9. We were getting ready to cut steel rails with plastic C-4.
SSG Max Chacon, the senior combat engineer on ODA-9. We were getting ready to cut steel rails with plastic C-4.
RB 15 rubber raft training. The soldier in sun glasses was ODA-9's Lieutenant Mike Regnier, a superb executive officer and an expert on many foreign automatic weapons. Master Sergeant (later Sergeant Major) Warren Pochinski is behind Regnier.
RB 15 rubber raft training. The soldier in sun glasses was ODA-9's Lieutenant Mike Regnier, a superb executive officer and an expert on many foreign automatic weapons. Master Sergeant (later Sergeant Major) Warren Pochinski is behind Regnier.
RB 15 rubber raft training with Special Forces members of Company B having a lot of fun splashing water on each other!
RB 15 rubber raft training with Special Forces members of Company B having a lot of fun splashing water on each other!
Same group of suspects!
Same group of suspects!
RB 15 training
RB 15 training
End of RB 15 training
End of RB 15 training
End of RB 15 training
End of RB 15 training
81 millimeter mortar cross-training. ODA's team sergeant, SFC Willie Chappell had just bet the team that he could "bracket" in three. Chappell, in fact, did "bracket" in three.
81 millimeter mortar cross-training. ODA's team sergeant, SFC Willie Chappell had just bet the team that he could "bracket" in three. Chappell, in fact, did "bracket" in three.
Range adjustment on the 81 mm.
Range adjustment on the 81 mm.
Fire for effect?
Fire for effect?
SFC Carpenter manning the mortar. Carpenter was an exceptional commo sergeant. He was a member of the two SF A-teams in 1967 who trained 500 Bolivian rangers, tracked down and eliminated Che Guevara and other Cuban guerrillas trying to overthrow Bolivia.
SFC Carpenter manning the mortar. Carpenter was an exceptional commo sergeant. He was a member of the two SF A-teams in 1967 who trained 500 Bolivian rangers, tracked down and eliminated Che Guevara and other Cuban guerrillas trying to overthrow Bolivia.
SFC Chappell brackets in three!
SFC Chappell brackets in three!
ODA-9's SSG Marcus Lee, SSG Jimmy Johnson and SFC Jamie Coalsen. Lee was the light weapons sergeant, Johnson was the operations and intelligence sergeant and Coalsen was the senior communications sergeant.
ODA-9's SSG Marcus Lee, SSG Jimmy Johnson and SFC Jamie Coalsen. Lee was the light weapons sergeant, Johnson was the operations and intelligence sergeant and Coalsen was the senior communications sergeant.
AUT_2823 fixed
AUT_2823 fixed
Me, SSG Chris Hodge, Sergeant Jimmy Eason. We were getting ready to parachute from a Huey into Gatun Lake.
Me, SSG Chris Hodge, Sergeant Jimmy Eason. We were getting ready to parachute from a Huey into Gatun Lake.
MTT in Colombia; Captain White, me, Major Remington and Amparo's family. (Amparo was our housekeeper and cook while we were in Colombia.
MTT in Colombia; Captain White, me, Major Remington and Amparo's family. (Amparo was our housekeeper and cook while we were in Colombia.
Monserrate, the mountain that dominates the landscape of Bogota, at 10,300 feet above sea level. A 17th century Catholic Church is on top of the mountain.
Monserrate, the mountain that dominates the landscape of Bogota, at 10,300 feet above sea level. A 17th century Catholic Church is on top of the mountain.
Bogota from the top of Monserrate
Bogota from the top of Monserrate
Incognitio at Monserrate
Incognitio at Monserrate
Mobile Training Team (MTT). Group assigned Major Remington, Captain White, SSG Chacon, SSG Johnny Miller and me to train 42 Columbian officers and NCOs in landmines and explosives. The training that was entirely in Spanish lasted six weeks.
Mobile Training Team (MTT). Group assigned Major Remington, Captain White, SSG Chacon, SSG Johnny Miller and me to train 42 Columbian officers and NCOs in landmines and explosives. The training that was entirely in Spanish lasted six weeks.
Instructing Columbian combat engineers, Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces) and Lanceros (Rangers) in demolitions.
Instructing Columbian combat engineers, Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces) and Lanceros (Rangers) in demolitions.
Simple TNT charge wrapped with a det chord initiator.
Simple TNT charge wrapped with a det chord initiator.
Simple TNT charge wrapped with a det chord initiator.
Simple TNT charge wrapped with a det chord initiator.
After detonation of TNT charge.
After detonation of TNT charge.
Preparing a det chord ring main.
Preparing a det chord ring main.
Small block of TNT tied into a det chord ring main. (The det chord we were using exploded at approximately 19,000 feet per second.)
Small block of TNT tied into a det chord ring main. (The det chord we were using exploded at approximately 19,000 feet per second.)
Demolition training on preparing tank craters. We were using Colombian dynamite, rather than U.S. military dynamite.
Demolition training on preparing tank craters. We were using Colombian dynamite, rather than U.S. military dynamite.
SSG Max Chacon demonstrating the extraordinary effectiveness of small quantities of explosive used against a vehicle.
SSG Max Chacon demonstrating the extraordinary effectiveness of small quantities of explosive used against a vehicle.
Columbian jump school, Melgar, Colombia
Columbian jump school, Melgar, Colombia
Colombian jump school
Colombian jump school
We were invited to jump with the Columbian Lanceros and Fuerzas Especiales and following were awarded Columbian jump wings.
We were invited to jump with the Columbian Lanceros and Fuerzas Especiales and following were awarded Columbian jump wings.
Receiving jump wings from the Columbian military
Receiving jump wings from the Columbian military
Receiving jump wings from the Columbian military
Receiving jump wings from the Columbian military
My best friend from Special Forces, Sergeant Juri Estam. After we graduated from training group, Juri was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Tolz, Germany. He now lives in Tallinn, Estonia.
My best friend from Special Forces, Sergeant Juri Estam. After we graduated from training group, Juri was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Tolz, Germany. He now lives in Tallinn, Estonia.
Juri Estam ready to board a C-130 at Fort Bragg.
Juri Estam ready to board a C-130 at Fort Bragg.
Juri Estam's A-Team, 10th Special Forces Group, Bad Tolz
Juri Estam's A-Team, 10th Special Forces Group, Bad Tolz
Ft. Carson, 1975, NE National Guard. SSG Bill Galbraith (far left) formerly of 3rd SF Group and I (second from right) taught our Guard teammates SF explosives. We built this bridge then blew it up.
Ft. Carson, 1975, NE National Guard. SSG Bill Galbraith (far left) formerly of 3rd SF Group and I (second from right) taught our Guard teammates SF explosives. We built this bridge then blew it up.
Ft. Carson "top brass" watched from a safe distance when our team attacked this bridge with a ring main and satchel charges and in one minute and 40 seconds blew it to hell. Stupendous plume of plank lumber; we loved it! (Slight overkill, but very fun!)
Ft. Carson "top brass" watched from a safe distance when our team attacked this bridge with a ring main and satchel charges and in one minute and 40 seconds blew it to hell. Stupendous plume of plank lumber; we loved it! (Slight overkill, but very fun!)
November 2001 50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Ft. Bragg, NC
November 2001 50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Ft. Bragg, NC
50th Anniversary of Special Forces. Me and Juri Estam at the John Wayne monument.
50th Anniversary of Special Forces. Me and Juri Estam at the John Wayne monument.
50th Anniversary of Special Forces; Juri Estam and me at the Colonel Bull Simon's monument. (Simmons was leader of the Son Tay Raid into North Vietnam.)
50th Anniversary of Special Forces; Juri Estam and me at the Colonel Bull Simon's monument. (Simmons was leader of the Son Tay Raid into North Vietnam.)
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Colonel Bull Simons monument.
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Colonel Bull Simons monument.
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Colonel Bull Simons monument. Truer words were never spoken!
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Colonel Bull Simons monument. Truer words were never spoken!
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Special Operations Warfare Center Ft. Bragg, NC
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Special Operations Warfare Center Ft. Bragg, NC
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Juri Estam and me at the 'Bronze Bruce' statue (image of Special Forces soldier)
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Juri Estam and me at the 'Bronze Bruce' statue (image of Special Forces soldier)
Colonel Aaron Bank (retired), Father of Special Forces (Nearly 100 years old) at the 50th SF anniversary Published with permission of Chapter1-18, SFA-1,
Fayetteville, NC
Colonel Aaron Bank (retired), Father of Special Forces (Nearly 100 years old) at the 50th SF anniversary Published with permission of Chapter1-18, SFA-1,
Fayetteville, NC
Precision stand-up landing by a Special Forces HALO jumper, during the 50th Anniversary picnic. Published with permission of Chapter1-18, SFA-1, Fayetteville, NC
Precision stand-up landing by a Special Forces HALO jumper, during the 50th Anniversary picnic. Published with permission of Chapter1-18, SFA-1, Fayetteville, NC
Major General Lambert, commanding general of Special Forces, awards the best A-Team competition. Published with permission of Chapter1-18, SFA-1, Fayetteville, NC
Major General Lambert, commanding general of Special Forces, awards the best A-Team competition. Published with permission of Chapter1-18, SFA-1, Fayetteville, NC
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, headquarters, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group.
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, headquarters, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group.
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group.
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group.
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, with my friend SSG Roy Hill who was one of my instructors in Scuba School. (Also, he was one of the toughest men I ever met.)
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, with my friend SSG Roy Hill who was one of my instructors in Scuba School. (Also, he was one of the toughest men I ever met.)
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, with my friend Sergeant Major Warren Pochinski (retired) - a great soldier. I respect and admire him immensely.
50th Anniversary of Special Forces, with my friend Sergeant Major Warren Pochinski (retired) - a great soldier. I respect and admire him immensely.
Command Sergeant Major Ronnie Strahan recruited me into Special Forces. On that occasion, he was SFC Ronnie Strahan and already an authentic hero who had participated in the famous Son Tay Raid in North Vietnam. I am indebted to him.
Command Sergeant Major Ronnie Strahan recruited me into Special Forces. On that occasion, he was SFC Ronnie Strahan and already an authentic hero who had participated in the famous Son Tay Raid in North Vietnam. I am indebted to him.