02-19-2017, 14:19
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#1
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Area Commander
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,423
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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.
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Flagg is offline
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02-24-2017, 07:41
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#3
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Western WI
Posts: 6,824
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flagg
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.
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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. 
__________________
"Civil Wars don't start when a few guys hunt down a specific bastard. Civil Wars start when many guys hunt down the nearest bastards."
The coin paid to enforce words on parchment is blood; tyrants will not be stopped with anything less dear. - QP Peregrino
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Badger52 is offline
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02-24-2017, 13:36
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#4
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Area Commander
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,423
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Badger52
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. |
No worries!
And I completely agree.
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Flagg is offline
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02-24-2017, 12:02
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 20,929
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flagg
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. 
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"The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy, but where they are."
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Team Sergeant is offline
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02-24-2017, 16:25
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#6
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Area Commander
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,423
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Team Sergeant
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.
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Flagg is offline
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02-24-2017, 16:41
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#7
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Western WI
Posts: 6,824
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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...
__________________
"Civil Wars don't start when a few guys hunt down a specific bastard. Civil Wars start when many guys hunt down the nearest bastards."
The coin paid to enforce words on parchment is blood; tyrants will not be stopped with anything less dear. - QP Peregrino
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Badger52 is offline
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02-24-2017, 23:09
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#8
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Area Commander
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Lone Star
Posts: 2,153
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flagg
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
__________________
"we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" Rom. 5:3-4
"So we can suffer, and in suffering we know who we are" David Goggins
"Aide-toi, Dieu t'aidera " Jehanne, la Pucelle
Der, der Geld verliert, verliert einiges;
Der, der einen Freund verliert, verliert viel mehr;
Der, der das Vertrauen verliert, verliert alles.
INDNJC
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frostfire is offline
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02-25-2017, 01:01
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#9
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Area Commander
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,423
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frostfire
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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.
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Flagg is offline
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03-06-2017, 17:32
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#10
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Area Commander
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Harmony Church
Posts: 2,634
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Quote:
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I met Pat Mac about a year and a half ago. Great guy.
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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.
Last edited by mojaveman; 03-10-2017 at 22:34.
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mojaveman is offline
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03-06-2017, 20:19
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#11
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Western WI
Posts: 6,824
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mojaveman
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.  |
LMAO - hell everyone at Andrews said that. But we didn't do that "disappear into the local populace" thing as neat as they did.
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.
__________________
"Civil Wars don't start when a few guys hunt down a specific bastard. Civil Wars start when many guys hunt down the nearest bastards."
The coin paid to enforce words on parchment is blood; tyrants will not be stopped with anything less dear. - QP Peregrino
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Badger52 is offline
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03-07-2017, 06:23
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#12
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Asset
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Badger52
LMAO - hell everyone at Andrews said that. But we didn't do that "disappear into the local populace" thing as neat as they did.
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....
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JJungle is offline
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03-07-2017, 06:21
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#13
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Asset
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mojaveman
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. |
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
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JJungle is offline
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02-25-2017, 20:32
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#14
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 4,511
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frostfire
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I believe McNamara was in PSSE-B, a similar but different unit than Det-A.
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Razor is offline
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02-25-2017, 21:16
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#15
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Western WI
Posts: 6,824
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frostfire
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Thanks 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.
__________________
"Civil Wars don't start when a few guys hunt down a specific bastard. Civil Wars start when many guys hunt down the nearest bastards."
The coin paid to enforce words on parchment is blood; tyrants will not be stopped with anything less dear. - QP Peregrino
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Badger52 is offline
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