What was YOUR most inspiring military engagement?

[blue02hd]

What are those rarely mentioned but significant battles that you think of when the white noise softens and you have a cold beer in your hand?


The Manuever Captains Career Course here at Ft. Benning requires us write a Battle Analysis of an engagement or battle of our choosing. For obvious reasons I would like to research a SF, or SOF specific encounter that I may not have had the opportunity to study before.

My question to you: What engagements have inspired and instructed you more than any other? As long as it is documented, I can research and study it. My endstate will be to increase my horizons, as well as add some SF history to my kit bag.

Son Tay will not be selected, even though I am a big fan of that operation. I am looking to start with a fresh look, and I have read up on Son Tay a little already.

I will choose this topic within the next week, as time is ticking and I am sure the research will be extensive.

I know you guys will give me some great ideas,,,

[GreenSalsa]

Does it have to be US SOF / SF?

If not, check out the Norwegian heavy water sabotage during WWII done with the Norwegian resistance...stopped Hitler and company from getting the bomb and ending the war in the Germans favor...

[blue02hd]

No, it doesn't HAVE to be US SF or SOF, I am just trying to keep this research project close to our backyard. Your topic sounds real interesting, is there a name, location , or referrence?

EDIT: Operation Freshman, thanks,,,, Google rocks,,,,

[GreenSalsa]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_heavy_water_sabotage

Well documented in print, film, and several TV specials on it...

[Pete]

I've always been in awe of the Last Stand type of Battle. The leadership required to hold the force together and the bravery of the men in the action.

Rourke's Drift, Khartoum, Peking, Outpost Snipe and Dien Bien Phu to name a few.

Want to keep it US - the Wagon Box Fight.

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Agincourt, Issus (333BC), Gaugamela 331 BC, Cannae 216 BC, Zama 202 BC, Rossbach 1757, Jena and Auerstädt, will all have more learning/teaching points for you than SOF/SF related operations. This is, after all, your career course and the target audience is more likely to understand any of these battles than the subtelties of SF/SOF engagements. Remember where you are and who the target audience is-just thought.

[ZonieDiver]

I'd pick the battle at the Lang Vei SF camp in Viet Nam on 6 Feb 68. Lots of information. Very informative. Participants still living. First use of armored vehicles by NVA. Poor reaction by USMC.

[JumpinJoe1010]

I read "East of Chosin" by Roy Appleman, which details the decimation of US forces during the Korean War, namely the 31st and 32nd Infantry Regiments. To enhance your paper, I would read "Coldest Winter" by David Halberstam. He has a very dim view of General MacArthur's leadership, and goes into detail about; US Policy, Chinese, and Russian involvement. Highlighting this information, you could go to coldwarfiles.com. Many declassified documents that shed light into the character of the governments involved.

[The Reaper]

Skorzeny's rescue of Mussolini.

TR

[tom kelly]

This would be The Montagnard Uprising of September 1964. The incident was first reported in National Geographic Magazine in January 1965 Vol.127, No.1 in an article with photographs by Howard Sochurek in which he describes " How Coolness And Character Averted A Blood Bath when Mountain Tribesman Rose in Revolt." This was the story of American Special Forces in Action in Vietnam. The story was revisited in an article in VERITAS magazine Journal of Army Special Operations History Vol. 3, No. 2, 2007 Titled " A Team Effort" The Montagnard Uprising of September 1964. By Robert W. Jones Jr. The article features Special Forces Team A-312, 1st Special Forces Group (1st SFG) based in Okinawa, Japan. Sent to train, advise, and lead Montagnard irregular soldiers against the Viet Cong in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. Some of the Team Members are living in Fayetteville N C area and can be contacted via Special Forces Association Chap.1-18. The following Team Members are deceased George W Underwood KIA 7-23-1964, Marvin C Compton 9-17-1990, Gene Bell 10-11-2006, Burhl M Cunningham 1997, Arthur C Juniewicz Decd. The remaining Team Members can be contacted thru The Special Forces Association. Copies of the Article in Veritas Magazine may be requested from the following address : USASOC, Attn: AOHS Veritas, E-2929 Desert Storm Drive, Fort Bragg, NC 28310. You can also e-mail the author LTC Robert W Jones Jr., jonesr@society.mil .....Regard's tom kelly

[greenberetTFS]

This would be The Montagnard Uprising of September 1964. The incident was first reported in National Geographic Magazine in January 1965 Vol.127, No.1 in an article with photographs by Howard Sochurek in which he describes " How Coolness And Character Averted A Blood Bath when Mountain Tribesman Rose in Revolt." This was the story of American Special Forces in Action in Vietnam. The story was revisited in an article in VERITAS magazine Journal of Army Special Operations History Vol. 3, No. 2, 2007 Titled " A Team Effort" The Montagnard Uprising of September 1964. By Robert W. Jones Jr. The article features Special Forces Team A-312, 1st Special Forces Group (1st SFG) based in Okinawa, Japan. Sent to train, advise, and lead Montagnard irregular soldiers against the Viet Cong in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. Some of the Team Members are living in Fayetteville N C area and can be contacted via Special Forces Association Chap.1-18. The following Team Members are deceased George W Underwood KIA 7-23-1964, Marvin C Compton 9-17-1990, Gene Bell 10-11-2006, Burhl M Cunningham 1997, Arthur C Juniewicz Decd. The remaining Team Members can be contacted thru The Special Forces Association. Copies of the Article in Veritas Magazine may be requested from the following address : USASOC, Attn: AOHS Veritas, E-2929 Desert Storm Drive, Fort Bragg, NC 28310. You can also e-mail the author LTC Robert W Jones Jr., jonesr@society.mil .....Regard's tom kelly

tom kelly,

I think tom's right on with this.........:D

GB TFS :munchin

[60_Driver]

Hasta el Tope.

Possibly the last battle of WWIII.

[Richard]

Siege of Plei Mei (A-255) in Oct 65; B-52 (Delta) responded to reinforce and help break the week long siege.

Also, attack on Nam Dong (TDY A-726) in which CPT Roger Donlon received MOH.

Richard

[blue02hd]

Once again, I wanted to thank those who offered up sound advice and history worth looking at. I ended up choosing the Battle of Agincourt from 1415, and I enjoyed a very high learning curve. Many fundamentals showcased, and I highly recommend the read if you are interested in a "Do or Die" example.

I chose this prior to our loss of Col Moroney. I know he can see that I am grateful for his wisdom, and the wisdom of the others who post here.

Well, PT time,,,,

[Beerhunter]

I'm sure your analysis is supposed to be strategic, tactical, weaponry or geo-political, however don't forget the human element of the soldiers involved.

"....For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother..."

[Mike]

The Montagnard uprising, Lang Vei, Plei Me, and Nam Dong, are about as backyard SF as you can get.

Living survivors to interview.
A relevant and professional undertaking involving real people and events some of us have connections to.
Dismissing Son Tay is a shame. Took some big cahones to mount up for that.

Aigincourte was a bunch of faggots in europe hundreds of years ago.

Didn't even have automatic weapons.

[BMT (RIP)]

http://www.ultimatesniper.com/View_News_Details.cfm?NewsID=160&CategoryID=32&title_bar=THE%20LAST%20STAND%20OF%20RECON%20TEAM%2 0KANSAS



BMT

[blue02hd]

Dismissing Son Tay is a shame. Took some big cahones to mount up for that.

Aigincourte was a bunch of faggots in europe hundreds of years ago.

Didn't even have automatic weapons.

LOL, I agree. Rest assured Son Tay was not dismissed for lack of interest, but rather I wanted to research a battle from a clean fresh unbiased view. Truth be told, I was commissioned by a Son Tay Raider who still gives back to the Army down here at Building 4. Truly amazing to hear his story. Prior to meeting him I had also already researched that mission as well as I could. Truly amazing!

Col. Moroney also made a great point in that I had to look to my audience, Agincourte turned out to be the perfect fit.

" English v. French, who do you think wins? Analaysis complete."

King Henry had balls and discipline, you can't argue that.

[SRGross]

Chief Joseph
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/chiefjoseph.htm
The almost the entire US Army in a wild goose chase

Battle of Stalingard, I believe it to be the battle that changed the war.

battle of Gettysburg