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Old 04-07-2006, 09:41   #1
QRQ 30
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Williamston, SC
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TF-1 could have been Desert 1.

When the 6 Day war of 1967 broke out I was assigned to CoA, 10thSFGA in Lenggries, Germany. The Americans residing in Tripoli, Lybia were at risk and we were assigned to extract them. Our B-Team was assigned the mission of securing an air head in the desert near Tripoli for the purpose of bringing in aircraft. Other Teams had various missions up to and including the actual rescue of the Americans. The first thing that came out our our mouths was "Why us. This is a job for the 8th Div in Mainz.(508 or 509 PIR -- CRS). This may have been the first time a Special Forces was tagged for a DA mission. It was certainly a first for the UW oriented 10th.

Now the fun starts. Everyone carried different weapons -- M-14, M-16, Thompsons AND/OR 1911'S. a long discussion ensued over who would carry which weapons and ammo. We also had 60 mm mortars and MG's. This SSG Commo Supv immediately became the "squad RTO". I got a .45 and M-2 Carbine and some extra ammo.

Now, the real TF starts. They had us lay out our gear in the parade field for a piece by piece inspection. Y'all know the drill: "Everyone hold up his hanky. Now put the hanky in your right rear pocket, etc." Footnote: Realize that SF wasn't a career field and most officers that were worth a sh*t were in RVN.

Long discussions arose about gear. Take sleeping bags - No! no sleeping bags. Take field jackets -- No, no field jackets. etc.

When we got finally got all packed up a few trips were attempted to get out by bus but were all aborted by photographers, Those familiar with the lay out of Prinz Heinrich Kaserne with only one gate in and out will know the security problems. IMO this was a good point for re-deploying the Groups to CONUS and larger Posts.

As it turned out the war was over before we got straight and we heard that the SAS had accomplished the mission with no shots fired.

Upon contemplating the operation for the past 40 years I can only hope that this was some sort of high visibility diversion so someone else could get the job done.l OTOH it was a chance for the ticket punching career officers to get their "Combat" ticket punched. There had to be some heavy politics pulled to get this mission rather than the Men of Mainz who IMO were better trained and equiped for this type of mission.
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