View Full Version : Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, 1956–1
A new(and long awaited) book:
"Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, 1956–1990" by James Stejskal
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06WLLJPGB/
I haven't read it yet as I only just received the alert and downloaded it immediately.
Considering how little the world knows about DET-A and the resurgence of Cold War 2.0 in Eastern Europe that renews their relevancy, I'm just grateful to get a better open source understanding of their history.
Review of the book by SF COL David Maxwell(retired):
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/“det-a”-applied-unconventional-warfare-in-berlin-and-beyond-in-the-cold-war
Badger52
02-24-2017, 07:41
Considering how little the world knows about DET-A and the resurgence of Cold War 2.0 in Eastern Europe that renews their relevancy, I'm just grateful to get a better open source understanding of their history.Thank you VERY much for the link; a must-add for the bookshelf. And about bloody time. These gents were right across from me at Andrews.
Damned hippies. :D
Team Sergeant
02-24-2017, 12:02
A new(and long awaited) book:
"Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, 1956–1990" by James Stejskal
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06WLLJPGB/
I haven't read it yet as I only just received the alert and downloaded it immediately.
Considering how little the world knows about DET-A and the resurgence of Cold War 2.0 in Eastern Europe that renews their relevancy, I'm just grateful to get a better open source understanding of their history.
The stories we could tell.... and we would , but then we'd have to kill you. ;)
Thank you VERY much for the link; a must-add for the bookshelf. And about bloody time. These gents were right across from me at Andrews.
Damned hippies. :D
No worries!
And I completely agree.
The stories we could tell.... and we would , but then we'd have to kill you. ;)
Haha. Totally understandable given the content, context, and current circumstances.
I'm just genuinely grateful it was able to be published at all.
The comments at the bottom of David Maxwell's review by SMJ users Bill C, Outlaw09(DET A Vet I've shared a few emails with), and David Maxwell himself are also enlightening.
I'm left with the impression when looking at everything in aggregate that not only is a DET A like capability incredibly relevant, but so is a "counter DET A" capability. Hopefully "DET A DNA" is still being shared and replicated where needed.
Staying away completely from the OPSEC stuff, what I'm most intrigued about is what the small team dynamics and culture was like.
Especially with a training tempo that must have been relentless due to the need to master so many disparate(and new/evolving) skill sets that all had their own particular skill fade/currency issues. The adaptability is quite impressive.
From reading anecdotals here and elsewhere I'm left with the distinct impression that SF service in Germany during the Cold War was an experience that reads to an outsider as being overwhelmingly positive compared to many other Cold War, peacetime, and wartime theatres.
To avoid being killed :) I'll preface by saying this is not a probe, but that I strongly suspect there is far more to the DET A story than what is covered in this book.
I can only hope that I will live long enough(unlikely) and/or the geopolitical competition will shift enough(unlikely) to learn if any of my hunches are true.
But a good author always leaves a reader a bit wanting.
Badger52
02-24-2017, 16:41
Really looking forward to the book. I remember they stood out like a strobe ON the kaserne but, once off, with current local threads & longish hair, that allowed them to disappear like a chameleon. Very seldom seen at the usual nearby watering holes. Hell, they probably had a lock on the hot women too... :D
frostfire
02-24-2017, 23:09
A new(and long awaited) book:
"Special Forces Berlin: Clandestine Cold War Operations of the US Army's Elite, 1956–1990" by James Stejskal
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06WLLJPGB/
I haven't read it yet as I only just received the alert and downloaded it immediately.
Considering how little the world knows about DET-A and the resurgence of Cold War 2.0 in Eastern Europe that renews their relevancy, I'm just grateful to get a better open source understanding of their history.
Pat was there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWv7NndBf68
Pat was there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWv7NndBf68
I met Pat Mac about a year and a half ago. Great guy.
That was one of the many reasons why I wanted to catch up with him.
He has a really diverse background and interests. He was able to offer some solid advice for a programme I've been working on.
Pat was there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWv7NndBf68
I believe McNamara was in PSSE-B, a similar but different unit than Det-A.
Badger52
02-25-2017, 21:16
Pat was there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWv7NndBf68Thanks for that link. Noted the MLM plated vehicle; long past my time, they started using a vehicles appropriate to the task (vs. Interceptor-package American iron which didn't do forests very well). But remained a wonderful way to get a look at the other guy's "real estate."
C'monnnn Amazon.
Greetings All,
I am the author of Special Forces Berlin.... (the book referenced above)
First, I hope you enjoy the history and story.
Second, as far as calling it open source - it is now but only after a 14-month review by DoD.
It is based on the oral and written histories of around 60 troopers who served there between 1956 and 1990, the documents found at NARA, CMH, USAREUR, and USASOC, as well my service there (twice).
And to clarify one misconception: Detachment "A" (39th SFD) preceded PSSE-B (410th) - they actually overlapped about ten months - but they are both Special Forces Berlin. Det "A" passed its missions on to PSSE-B and the (classified) lineage continued. It's outlined in the book pretty comprehensively.
Once again, enjoy. Let me know if you have any questions!
VR
I'll have to ask my neighbor Ivan if he's heard about the book.
He was born in one of those little countries that were absorbed by the USSR. Speaks English as a 4th language and spent a number of years in Berlin with SF.
Team Sergeant
03-05-2017, 11:44
I'll have to ask my neighbor Ivan if he's heard about the book.
He was born in one of those little countries that were absorbed by the USSR. Speaks English as a 4th language and spent a number of years in Berlin with SF.
Not "Him"...??? ;) (Is his first name "CSM" ?)
Ivan W? 1960-1963 circa?
That's him Old as dirt and still kicking strong.
No, TS, not "that" Ivan.
Got him. He's on the master roster.
800+ and counting from 1956-1990.
Can you get his permission and address for contact?
VR
...Can you get his permission and address for contact?
VR
I'll ask him.
Might take a few days.
mojaveman
03-06-2017, 17:32
I met Pat Mac about a year and a half ago. Great guy.
Went through the SFQC with him and he's definitely a character.
Heard a story one time that MG Suddath visited Det - A in Berlin in the '80s and told them that their hair was too long.
Badger52
03-06-2017, 20:19
Heard a story one time that MG Suddath visited Det-A in Berlin in the '80s and told them that their hair was too long. :pLMAO - hell everyone at Andrews said that. But we didn't do that "disappear into the local populace" thing as neat as they did.
:cool:
Just got my copy today (now to finish the depressing last couple hundred pages of Foote's civil war trilogy). I did cheat & look at the foreword, preface & pics. Nice cross-section in the photos.
Went through the SFQC with him and he's definitely a character.
Heard a story one time that MG Suddath visited Det-A in Berlin in the '80s and told them that their hair was too long. :p
Suddath was Commander of Berlin and got a very extensive briefing / dog & pony show from the Det before he went back to take over SF at Bragg.
Yes, he said the hair was too long but after the brief he appreciated what the unit and the men were all about.
DOL
LMAO - hell everyone at Andrews said that. But we didn't do that "disappear into the local populace" thing as neat as they did.
:cool:
Just got my copy today (now to finish the depressing last couple hundred pages of Foote's civil war trilogy). I did cheat & look at the foreword, preface & pics. Nice cross-section in the photos.
Hope you enjoy it! Not everything made it through the censor's review but that's what they're there for I guess....
Maple Flag
03-10-2017, 17:31
I'm also very much looking forward to reading this one, in part with the hopes that it ties in at points with material from other historical accounts (Bearden, Mitrokhin, etc.).
Badger52
03-24-2017, 15:49
Hope you enjoy it! Not everything made it through the censor's review but that's what they're there for I guess....[Redacted], lol. Yes, all-in-all, it's easy to draw the context. 1/2 way through now and am thorougly enjoying what is, for my bookshelf, a balancing piece in SF history with its different theater emphasis, etc., along with the incredible time span covered. And, yeah, plenty of funny shit at no extra charge.
I actually remember thinking about them during the initial AyatollahAssaholah time - by then working a multi-point TTY circuit in the puzzle palace with some [Redacted OGOs]. Pouring another cup of coffee on what always turned out to be a 12 to 14-hour shift and thinking "bet there are some folks spun up right now no one's thinking about and they're not out at the Imbiss on Finckensteinallee." Buddy asked me where I went for a moment & what I was thinking about.
"Currywurst."
Solid read for anyone's bookshelf - 2x thumbs-up. Thanks for your efforts.
I finished the book Thursday evening. It was a book that I would have to force myself to put down and get back to work or go to bed. It was a fantastic read and I was sad when I finished it. Should be a required reading for the 4th BNs.
Roguish Lawyer
04-30-2017, 18:39
I just finished the book. Really enjoyed it, particularly the section on COL Moroney. A real Quiet Professional, that man.
JJungle, welcome to the Board!
Got the book some weeks ago, only got started on it today.
Pretty good to read after just finishing
"The Secret War: Spies, Codes And Guerrillas, 1939–45" from Max Hastings
Badger52
06-26-2017, 15:06
Nice article published a couple of days ago by Stars & Stripes. (https://www.stripes.com/a-clandestine-cold-war-military-unit-steps-into-the-light-1.475276#.WVFWtFGQxEb)
Good article....glad the history isn't being lost...just talked to 'Ironman' the other day.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?429564-2/special-forces-cold-war-berlin
1 hour long C-SPAN video on DET-A Veteran James Stejskal, author of the book Special Forces Berlin.
I never thought I would ever put the words C-SPAN and exciting together in a single sentence. Haha.
Cheers for writing the book and providing even more context with the video presentation Mr Stejskal!
Badger52
07-05-2017, 20:54
Thanks very much for that link. On tap in the AM with some coffee.
:cool:
Badger52
10-04-2017, 06:43
Am advised by just-received current edition of Cold War Times (http://www.coldwar.org/coldwar.org/text_files/coldwartimesSummer2017.pdf) of the following:
------------------
- January 14, 2018
Blending In - Special Forces Berlin: The Top Secret Teams Combining Military, Intelligence, and Linguistic Skills in the OSS Tradition During the Cold War. James Stejskal, one of the SFB members in the 70’s and 80’s and later a CIA operator in Africa and elsewhere, will draw on his recent book Special Forces Berlin to show how the “PhD who could win a bar fight” tradition secretly stayed alive after OSS was disbanded after World War II. These teams pioneered our modern unconventional warfare and counterterrorism techniques used by today's special operations forces. Their existence was so secret that their mission was only declassified in 2014.
For more information about Special Forces Berlin (the book), please go here (https://www.amazon.com/Special-Forces-Berlin-Clandestine-Operations/dp/161200444X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501626216&sr=1-1&keywords=special+forces+berlin)
------------------
Those up in the NoVA area during that time may want to take this in; museum is located by the old ASA Vint Hill Farms Station ground. (Old Bust Head Brewery & craft wineries in the area as well as Civil War battle areas nearby so a good thing to rope in with other activities if visiting the area. Donations are incredibly welcomed. Cold War Museum contact (540) 341-2008.
"PhD who could win a barfight" -heh. :cool: