12 OCT 61: The first public wearing of the Green Beret,

**Team Sergeant** · 10-12-2006, 10:47

12 OCT 61: The first public wearing of the Green Beret, coinciding with a briefing and Gabriel demonstration for President John F. Kennedy at McKellars Pond, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

This remarkable visit was to demonstrate to the president that the unconventional threat to our nation could best be countered by new kinds of strategies and new kinds of forces.

The green beret, personally authorized by Kennedy, was highly symbolic of this new breed of warrior, led by a true visionary, Lieutenant General William P. Yarborough.

De Oppresso Liber

x SF med · 10-12-2006, 12:24

45 years - just one shy of my age, coincidence?

Gentlemen, to another 45 years!

bost1751 · 10-12-2006, 14:14

Thanks for the post TS. It is nice to read it again after several years of not hearing it even mentioned.

**Team Sergeant** · 10-12-2006, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by bost1751

Thanks for the post TS. It is nice to read it again after several years of not hearing it even mentioned.

I cannot tell a lie, SOGVET sent it to me this morning.

Between all of us on here we should be able to fill the calendar with SF trivia!

TS

**Bill Harsey** · 10-12-2006, 16:13

In the knife making shop here is a signed and framed black and white photograph sent to me by LTG William P. Yarborough of his meeting that day with President John F. Kennedy.

Long live Army Special Forces.

**Team Sergeant** · 10-12-2006, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

In the knife making shop here is a signed and framed black and white photograph sent to me by LTG William P. Yarborough of his meeting that day with President John F. Kennedy.

Long live Army Special Forces.

Hey Knife-maker!

What was the date of the "first" Yarborough awarded???

**Bill Harsey** · 10-12-2006, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Hey Knife-maker!

What was the date of the "first" Yarborough awarded???

August, 2002 and I think the day was the 11th at the Regimental Supper where the first Yarborough knives were awarded to the graduating class of the United States Army Special Forces Qualification Course.

The featured speaker at that event was General Doug Brown, then Commanding General of USASOC and it was General Brown who, inspired by Yarborough, authorized the process by which the knife to become the "Yarborough" was selected.

**Team Sergeant** · 10-12-2006, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

August, 2002 and I think the day was the 11th at the Regimental Supper where the first Yarborough knives were awarded to the graduating class of the United States Army Special Forces Qualification Course.

The featured speaker at that event was General Doug Brown, then Commanding General of USASOC and it was General Brown who, inspired by Yarborough, authorized the process by which the knife to become the "Yarborough" was selected.

So it shall be written!

Thank you Mr. Knifemaker

x SF med · 10-13-2006, 06:30

Damn, Bill, you're good - Knifemaker, Historian, and History maker....

jessipo1 · 10-26-2006, 05:48

I know it's late, but I've been on "couch patrol" for a couple weeks and am just now getting back into the swing of things & catching up on all the latest from you lot. Love this thread. It's so interesting to learn about the different branches and the parts they've played in our recent history. I don't know how we did without our QP's for as long as we did! Anyway, I went on to look up more about that day and found this & thought you might like to remember/read it too:

When President Kennedy came to Fort Bragg October 12, 1961, General Yarborough wore his green beret to greet the commander-in-chief. The president remarked, "Those are nice. How do you like the green beret?" General Yarborough replied: "They're fine, sir. We've wanted them a long time."

A message from President Kennedy to General Yarborough later that day stated, "My congratulations to you personally for your part in the presentation today ... The challenge of this old but new form of operations is a real one and I know that you and the members of your command will carry on for us and the free world in a manner which is both worthy and inspiring. I am sure that the green beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead." http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wpyarborough.htm

I'd never realized how important that "hat" is until now and the kind of effort it took on behalf of several parties to get it to be the official beret of the A-teams. And, it's especially cool that Kennedy was the one to like make it official, don't you think?

Thanks so much for starting this thread. Hope I haven't overstepped by piping in with this additional info--just thought some of you might enjoy it. I'm always reminded when I come here just how important a job you've all had/have and how awesomely comforting it is to know that you're on our side (not theirs). <g>

JP