Dan
06-12-2008, 09:15
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=296349
Special Forces adds name to its Hall of Fame
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor
Jack Joplin, who was on the unsuccessful raids to rescue U.S. prisoners or war in North Vietnam and hostages in Iran, is the newest living member of the Special Forces Hall of Fame.
Joplin, who lives in Alabama, and the late Walter Shumate have been selected as Distinguished Members of the Special Forces Regiment.
The retired command sergeant majors spent careers in the Army and then worked training Special Forces and special operations soldiers as Army civilians.
Joplin was recognized May 30 at the graduation of the most recent Special Forces Qualification Course. So far, 20 people out of the thousands who receive the Special Forces tab have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Their portraits hang in a corridor in the Aaron Bank classroom building on Fort Bragg.
Other organizations in the Army have halls of fame. The John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School has had a hall of heroes for its Medal of Honor recipients, but Maj. Gen. James Parker thought it was time to recognize others.
“The concept of the regimental hall of fame for Special Forces is to recognize those Special Forces soldiers who have gone before us that have made a significant and lasting contribution to the regiment but did not have the opportunity to earn the Medal of Honor,” Parker said.
Parker is commander of Fort Bragg’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, which has the twin jobs of bringing Green Berets into the Army and preserving the legacy and lessons of those who went before.
The 20 members include a mix of senior officers and enlisted soldiers. At the top of the list is the late Col. Aaron Bank, who activated the original Special Forces group at Fort Bragg in 1952 and is often referred to as the “father of Special Forces.” Only two — Sid Shachnow and John Singlaub — are generals. Two — Harry Rider and Thomas Edinger — were senior warrant officers. Only one, Roger Donlon, is a Medal of Honor recipient. He was the first person to receive the nation’s highest award during the Vietnam War.
Others — such as Richmond Nail and Ernest Tabata — have worked as civilians training Special Forces soldiers.
“We want to recognize people like that,” Parker said. “We want the soldiers who train in this building every day to be able to see them and hold them up as worthy examples to emulate.”
The regiment is asking for suggestions for Distinguished Members.
“We have Special Forces associations in different cities all over the United States, some around the world as well,” Parker said. “In many cases, they know of people who have made significant contributions that we may not be aware of here. We are trying to solicit their input.”
“To be considered, you don’t have to have served a 20-year career in the military and retired,” Parker said. “You must have been a Special Forces soldier at one time and made significant contributions on active duty or subsequent to active duty that’s worthy of note.”
Military editor Henry Cuningham can be reached at cuninghamh@fayobserver.com or 486-3585.
Special Forces adds name to its Hall of Fame
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor
Jack Joplin, who was on the unsuccessful raids to rescue U.S. prisoners or war in North Vietnam and hostages in Iran, is the newest living member of the Special Forces Hall of Fame.
Joplin, who lives in Alabama, and the late Walter Shumate have been selected as Distinguished Members of the Special Forces Regiment.
The retired command sergeant majors spent careers in the Army and then worked training Special Forces and special operations soldiers as Army civilians.
Joplin was recognized May 30 at the graduation of the most recent Special Forces Qualification Course. So far, 20 people out of the thousands who receive the Special Forces tab have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Their portraits hang in a corridor in the Aaron Bank classroom building on Fort Bragg.
Other organizations in the Army have halls of fame. The John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School has had a hall of heroes for its Medal of Honor recipients, but Maj. Gen. James Parker thought it was time to recognize others.
“The concept of the regimental hall of fame for Special Forces is to recognize those Special Forces soldiers who have gone before us that have made a significant and lasting contribution to the regiment but did not have the opportunity to earn the Medal of Honor,” Parker said.
Parker is commander of Fort Bragg’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, which has the twin jobs of bringing Green Berets into the Army and preserving the legacy and lessons of those who went before.
The 20 members include a mix of senior officers and enlisted soldiers. At the top of the list is the late Col. Aaron Bank, who activated the original Special Forces group at Fort Bragg in 1952 and is often referred to as the “father of Special Forces.” Only two — Sid Shachnow and John Singlaub — are generals. Two — Harry Rider and Thomas Edinger — were senior warrant officers. Only one, Roger Donlon, is a Medal of Honor recipient. He was the first person to receive the nation’s highest award during the Vietnam War.
Others — such as Richmond Nail and Ernest Tabata — have worked as civilians training Special Forces soldiers.
“We want to recognize people like that,” Parker said. “We want the soldiers who train in this building every day to be able to see them and hold them up as worthy examples to emulate.”
The regiment is asking for suggestions for Distinguished Members.
“We have Special Forces associations in different cities all over the United States, some around the world as well,” Parker said. “In many cases, they know of people who have made significant contributions that we may not be aware of here. We are trying to solicit their input.”
“To be considered, you don’t have to have served a 20-year career in the military and retired,” Parker said. “You must have been a Special Forces soldier at one time and made significant contributions on active duty or subsequent to active duty that’s worthy of note.”
Military editor Henry Cuningham can be reached at cuninghamh@fayobserver.com or 486-3585.