June 25th, 1957

[JJ_BPK]

63 years ago - The first US Special Forces "A Team" deployed to Vietnam.

"Team 3-A" departs from Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii on a long flight to Nha Trang, with intermediate stops at Wake Island, Haneda (Tokyo), Clark Field (P.I.), and Saigon.

Captain Harry G. Cramer is the commander, MSG Francis J. Ruddy is the team sergeant. The team includes SP2 Earl Kalani, MSG Fred Williamson, MSG Ray LaBombard, SFC Chalmers Archer, SFC Bobby Newman, and SSG Lester Ruper. In Japan they are joined by SFC James Hanks and SFC Jack Standing, and by CPT Byrl Taylor who will serve as liaison officer to MAAG headquarters in Saigon.

De Oppresso Liber

[Ret10Echo]

Awesome but of history JJ. Thanks for sharing.

[Old Dog New Trick]

Thanks JJ for reminding us of our history.

[PSM]

What's an SP2? :confused:

[Ret10Echo]

What's an SP2? :confused:

Old School E-5 "Specialist".

[PSM]

I was an SPC/4. Would that have been an SP1 in '65?

[Ret10Echo]

I was an SPC/4. Would that have been an SP1 in '65?

From what I've read it went the other way around. SP1 would be an E-6

E-4 would be an SP-3

web link HERE (https://www.uniform-reference.net/insignia/usarmy/usa_enlisted_chron.html)


Just as an aside, the worst thing the Army did was get rid of the senior Specialist ranks (Spec 5,6, 7,8, etc....) There are some people that are freaking OUTSTANDING technicians, but have ZERO business being a supervisor. I saw a "Yoda" SPEC-6 go down in flames then separated because they hard-striped him and made him a SSG section chief... Waste of a really quality person.

[Flagg]

63 years ago - The first US Special Forces "A Team" deployed to Vietnam.

"Team 3-A" departs from Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii on a long flight to Nha Trang, with intermediate stops at Wake Island, Haneda (Tokyo), Clark Field (P.I.), and Saigon.

Captain Harry G. Cramer is the commander, MSG Francis J. Ruddy is the team sergeant. The team includes SP2 Earl Kalani, MSG Fred Williamson, MSG Ray LaBombard, SFC Chalmers Archer, SFC Bobby Newman, and SSG Lester Ruper. In Japan they are joined by SFC James Hanks and SFC Jack Standing, and by CPT Byrl Taylor who will serve as liaison officer to MAAG headquarters in Saigon.

De Oppresso Liber

Very cool photo!

I’ve got a copy of Chalmers Archer’s book.

[Badger52]

Wow, thanks for sharing that!

[Swoop]

DOL